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Saturday marks one month since the start of the US government shutdown. Lawmakers remain deadlocked over a spending bill, and the impasse has stalled a range of federal services. It could soon stop vital food assistance.

The shutdown is the second-longest in US history, behind the one during President Donald Trump's first term in 2018. That shutdown lasted 35 days.

National parks and museums are closed, and the Trump administration has been using the shutdown to reduce the federal workforce. It has sent layoff notices to more than 4,000 government employees. The US Congressional Budget Office says around 650,000 have been placed on unpaid leave.

Organizers of food banks rallied at the Department of Agriculture on Thursday, demanding food assistance be continued.

Department officials have warned that "the well has run dry," and no benefits will be issued from November 1. They say that during last fiscal year, more than 40 million Americans relied on the program each month. That accounts for about one-eighth of the population.

Anna Culbertson, a food drive organizer, said she and her colleagues cannot keep up without government support.

She said, "Even though we're doing a lot here today to raise food and funds for local community food banks, there's no way that the community can fill in the gaps."

Twenty-five states, including Massachusetts and California, as well as the District of Columbia, have sued the department. They argue that suspending the benefits is "unlawful."