For 28 days, the U.S. government remains shut down. On Oct. 28, 2025, the Senate failed for the 13th time to reopen it, with a 54-45 vote falling short of the required 60. As the debate over the funding bill stalls, the human cost mounts: federal workers now face a full month without pay.
The mechanism that halts federal paychecks is the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). This foundational law forbids the government from spending money it has not officially received from Congress—a measure designed to prevent overspending and enforce fiscal discipline. When Congress fails to pass a funding bill, the legal tap is turned off, and non-essential government operations must cease.
This cessation divides the federal workforce into two groups: furloughed and excepted. Furloughed workers are sent home on unpaid leave, legally barred from even checking their email. In stark contrast, “excepted” or “essential” workers—such as those in public safety and national security—are required to remain on the job. Their grim reality is that they are forced to work without a paycheck, accumulating owed hours while they wait for the political stalemate to break.
With paychecks gone, federal employees must now rely on food banks to feed their families. But this soaring demand is draining reserves, pushing food banks in critical areas such as Maryland and D.C. to the brink. As reported by Government Executive, a news and analysis publication for senior leaders in the U.S. Federal Government, these pantries are now scrambling to form partnerships. Through these partnerships, they hope to swiftly restock their shelves against a rising tide of need.
The situation is worsened by the potential halt of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November 2025. SNAP is a U.S. federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income households to help them buy food. States load benefits onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works similar to a debit card to purchase eligible groceries at stores. Eligibility stems from income and resources, and applicants must meet both state and federal requirements.
A decision by the Trump administration, confirmed by the USDA in a memo, suspended SNAP benefits on Nov. 1. By choosing not to use $5 billion in available contingency funds, the administration leaves approximately 42 million Americans–according to USDA.gov– uncertain of how they will afford their next groceries.
The ongoing shutdown shows no signs of resolution, prompting several states, including California and New York, to initiate lawsuits against the Trump administration over the SNAP benefit suspension. Unless a solution arises, these legal actions will likely proceed in the coming days.
