by Xinhua writers Xiong Maoling, Hu Yousong, Xie E
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its sixth week, breaking the record from nearly seven years ago and becoming the longest government shutdown in the country's history.
Around midday Wednesday, as the shutdown entered its 36th day, federal employees were seen lining up for free lunches at a relief site in downtown Washington, D.C., with noticeably more people than in previous days.
An employee of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who declined to reveal her name, told Xinhua that she had learned about the relief site from her sister and was visiting it for the first time. Since she lives far from the area, she had taken the subway to get there.
Due to the government shutdown, she has missed her paycheck twice in October and might miss another on Friday. "Rent and bills still come, and the pressure is mounting," she said.
Apryl, who works at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), was also collecting a free lunch for the first time. She told Xinhua that rising prices have made daily meals increasingly unaffordable, costing 15 to 30 U.S. dollars per lunch, so being able to get free food "means a lot" to her.
As a single mother with a 13-year-old daughter, Apryl said losing her income has been devastating. "Just trying to care for yourself and your kid -- it's like almost impossible," she said, adding that even her daughter is experiencing mental stress from the situation.
The event was organized by World Central Kitchen, which set up multiple relief sites in downtown Washington starting on Oct. 27. By the morning of Nov. 5, the organization had distributed over 36,000 meals, averaging about 4,000 meals per day.
In addition to the downtown sites, relief points were established at airports and Air Force bases. Staff said the number of people seeking free lunches on Wednesday had increased noticeably, with food supplies being consumed much faster than before.
Staff also revealed that organizers are working with local restaurants in downtown Washington, purchasing lunches from them to distribute to federal employees -- an effort that also helps support these struggling businesses.
Due to layoffs and the prolonged shutdown, local restaurants have reported significant drops in business. Aksana Tran, owner of a cafe on Massachusetts Avenue NE, told local media that sales have fallen by 15 to 20 percent during the shutdown.
Federal employees and local businesses are not the only ones affected by the ongoing shutdown. Its impact is intensifying across multiple public services, including food assistance programs and aviation security.
Due to depleted funds, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) suspended benefit payments starting Nov. 1. After two federal judges intervened, the Trump administration announced on Monday that it would use emergency funds to maintain half of the benefits for November. However, some states may take weeks or even months to resume full distributions.
The program covers 42 million Americans -- roughly one-eighth of the national population -- most of whom live below the poverty line.
Analysis by the U.S. think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that about 1.2 million households, or nearly 5 million people -- roughly 1 in nine SNAP recipients -- will receive zero benefits because their normal benefit amounts fall below the planned benefit reduction.
Apryl told Xinhua that, as a single mother, she is eligible for the SNAP, but she is concerned that her payments may not arrive on time as usual. "That would be more money that I have to put out into the grocery store, which is very expensive; that takes money from bills that I already have or something else I have to do for my kid," she said.
"I think this current episode of punishing or abusing the poor ... is yet another example of what has been a long-term truth about this country: how the poor have frequently been injured or deprived because of the contempt of those who are either wealthier and/or in power," said Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives.
"This country has never been a 'good place' to be poor," said Cusack.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on X on Wednesday that "Trump's continued weaponization of hunger is heartless and vile." A day earlier, Schumer had accused the president of treating hungry Americans as "political pawns" during the shutdown.
Meanwhile, Republicans have also criticized Democrats for ignoring the consequences of the shutdown.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, the top Republican in the chamber, said at a press conference on Tuesday that "the Schumer shutdown was never about health care or any other policy," referring to Chuck Schumer.
"Right now, the Democrats fear political retribution from far-left activists in their party more than they fear the consequences of keeping the government closed for weeks on end," said Johnson.
When asked which party should be held responsible for the current deadlock, the NIH employee told Xinhua, "Everyone plays a role in it."
Asked whether she believed the shutdown would end soon, she said she hoped so, but it didn't seem likely. "It seems that they've made no progress from where we were 36 days ago," she said. ■