Core Points - The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its second week, with significant implications for various programs [2] - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that if the shutdown continues into November, it will cease funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) [2] - Approximately 42 million people rely on SNAP, primarily low-income individuals, disabled persons, and the elderly, who use government-subsidized food vouchers to purchase food [2] - Beneficiaries have expressed concerns about the potential interruption of aid, with some indicating they may resort to extreme measures, such as selling plasma, to support their families [2] - There are calls for bipartisan cooperation in Congress to reach a budget agreement for the upcoming year, rather than continuing political maneuvering [2]

Core Points - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indefinitely suspended a team of federal economists and researchers responsible for a government investigation into food insecurity in the U.S. [1][2] - The USDA announced the cessation of data collection and publication for the 2025 Household Food Security Report, citing that the report has become "overly politicized" [2][3] - The 2023 Household Food Security Report indicated that 13.5% of American households face food insecurity, the highest level since 2014 [5] Group 1 - The USDA's decision to suspend the team is not a disciplinary action, and approximately 12 employees involved in the economic research project have been asked to submit their laptops [2] - Critics argue that the cancellation of the report is detrimental to addressing hunger issues in the U.S., especially amid high inflation and low employment [5] - The report has been a crucial tool for assessing food insecurity across different regions and demographics in the U.S., influencing government funding and food assistance programs [3] Group 2 - The USDA's rationale for stopping the report is linked to the assertion that data collected does not accurately reflect the actual state of food security in the country during the Trump administration [2] - Experts express concern that halting the investigation will eliminate a vital measure of public health and allow the government to ignore food insecurity issues [5]