People attend the People's Pantry Food drive to replenish food banks ahead of SNAP lapse at the USDA Headquarters, in the National Mall, Washington, DC on October 30, 2025

People attend the People's Pantry Food drive to replenish food banks ahead of SNAP lapse at the USDA Headquarters, in the National Mall, Washington, DC on October 30, 2025

The US government shutdown barreled towards its second month Friday and the pain is spreading fast -- with federal workers broke, food aid vanishing and millions of Americans caught in the crossfire.

What started on October 1 as a Washington sideshow has morphed into a slow-motion implosion of public services and a growing economic convulsion, with federal offices dark and President Donald Trump's government stuck in neutral.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.