Photos of Americans turning to food pantries as shutdown drags on
People receive free meals from the World Central Kitchen as they provide food to federal employees and their families near the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, during the federal government shutdown, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Americans who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families, including their pets, are lining up at food pantries across the country amid the government shutdown fight in Washington.
The financial struggles of federal workers after a month of missed paychecks are compounded by the federal food assistance program facing delays.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
California National Guard sort produce at the Los Angeles Food Bank Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)TSA agent Sashene McLean, holding her one-year-old daughter, comes from work to collect a donation of produce, meat and yogurt at a food distribution center organized to assist federal employees missing paychecks during the government shutdown, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Dania Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Volunteers at the San Antonio Food Bank load bags of potatoes for a food distribution for SNAP recipients and other households affected by the federal shutdown, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)An owner surrendered cat is seen at the New Leash On Life animal shelter, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Hundreds of people wait in line to receive free meals from the World Central Kitchen as they provide food to federal employees and their families near the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, during the federal government shutdown, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)Tammy Norton, a furloughed federal employee of 16 years who currently works for the Internal Revenue Service, speaks with emotion as she describes running through her limited savings to support her family during the government shutdown, at a food distribution for federal employees impacted by the government shutdown, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Dania Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Aidan Tavor, center, directs traffic as volunteers help load vehicles during a food distribution at the San Antonio Food Bank for SNAP recipients and other households affected by the federal shutdown, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)People receive free meals from the World Central Kitchen as they provide food to federal employees and their families near the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, during the federal government shutdown, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)Margaret Dickinson announces the opening of food pantry service with the placement of a sign at Calvary Episcopal Church on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)People wait to shop for food at Irving Park Community Food Pantry in Chicago, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Volunteer Regie Robles, right, helps residents without a vehicle navigate a drive-through food distribution at the San Antonio Food Bank for SNAP recipients and other households affected by the federal shutdown, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)FILE – Brock Brooks, a disable Marine Corps veteran, cries while describing the impending SNAP shutdowns while waiting in line to enter the food pantry service at Calvary Episcopal Church on Oct. 30, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry, file)Volunteers help load vehicles during a food distribution at the San Antonio Food Bank for SNAP recipients and other households affected by the federal shutdown, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Micah Getter, whose husband is a civil service employee of Keesler Air Force Base who is furloughed due to the government shutdown, unpacks provisions from a food pantry, in Gulfport, Miss., Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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