The ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now in its fifth week, has severely disrupted critical food assistance programs, leaving millions of low-income Americans in dire straits. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has accused Republicans of ‘weaponizing hunger’ by failing to reopen the government, which has led to the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP, which provides food aid to over 42 million citizens, has seen its funding lapse due to the shutdown, with recipients losing benefits as of last Saturday. Despite a federal judge’s order to use emergency funds to maintain SNAP, officials have stated that restoring benefits could take at least a week. The shutdown’s impact is particularly severe for Black Americans, who constitute 12.6% of the population but more than a quarter of SNAP recipients. Additionally, the $4.1 billion Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is also facing delays, leaving millions of households without heating and cooling assistance as winter approaches. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, warned that the temporary disruption could have profound effects on the nation’s poorest families. The shutdown has also led to a multibillion-dollar hit to the economy, with both political parties exchanging sharp accusations over the crisis.