The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its 35th day, tying the record with the longest shutdown in history — with no end in sight. It comes as the Trump administration agreed to comply with a court order to partially fund food benefits to 42 million people. The Department of Agriculture announced that it will tap into a contingency fund to provide only half of the benefits under SNAP, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Democratic Congressmember Rashida Tlaib said, “It shouldn’t take a court order to get the president to stop starving families and release the funds.” On Monday, Republican Senator John Barrasso blocked a Democratic bill demanding full funding for SNAP benefits. About one in eight U.S. residents get an average of $187 a month in food benefits from the government. This is Jessica Alicea, a SNAP recipient in Virginia.

Jessica Alicea: “I know what it’s like to give my kids food and not eat for the night. I know what it’s like to make sure that at the end of the day my kids have all that they need while I go without.”