The ongoing government shutdown in the United States — now the second longest in the country’s history — has taken a grim turn as the Trump administration announced the suspension of federal food assistance programs, leaving millions of low-income families at risk.

In a statement released Sunday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will stop as of November 1, citing the depletion of federal funds. “As a result, the well has run dry. No further benefits will be issued starting November 1,” the department said.

Critics accuse the Trump administration of weaponizing essential social welfare programs amid a deep political standoff with Democrats in Congress. Democrats, in turn, have condemned what they describe as an attempt to hold the poor “hostage to political bargaining.”

The shutdown, which began on October 1, shows no sign of resolution. Analysts warn that halting SNAP benefits could directly impact one in every eight Americans, intensifying food insecurity across the country.

Trump and Republican lawmakers have said they will not reopen the government unless Democrats agree to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.”

Several state governments have signaled plans to provide temporary relief using local budgets, though the USDA has said those expenses will not be reimbursed. In Republican-led states like Arkansas and Oklahoma, officials have urged residents to turn to food banks, while Democratic governors have criticized Washington’s “political recklessness.”

Economists warn that beyond hunger and poverty, the prolonged suspension of food aid could ripple through the broader economy, deepening existing inequalities.

Humanitarian groups and food banks have issued dire warnings. “This is a man-made disaster,” said one food bank coordinator quoted by TIME magazine. “People are already lining up for meals that may no longer come next week.”

According to reports by Reuters and Politico, the USDA has declined to use the $5 billion emergency contingency fund, claiming that it is legally reserved for disaster relief. The department cited “Hurricane Melissa” as an example of why the funds must remain untouched.

As the political stalemate drags on, tens of millions of vulnerable Americans brace for November without knowing how they will feed their families.(ILKHA)