Frustrated federal employees line up for food

STANDING in the middle of a parking lot in suburban Washington, surrounded by hundreds of federal employees waiting for food handouts amid the US government shutdown, Diane Miller summed it up simply.

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People line up to receive food for furloughed federal workers at No Limits Outreach Ministries, US.

(AFP)

"How am I gonna eat?" the 74-year-old public servant asked bitterly.

When her turn came, she showed her government employee card and received two boxes, one with fresh fruits and vegetables, the other with shelf-stable goods.

Every bit of it is necessary since her paycheck went to zero.

The vast majority of federal employees have been furloughed since October 1 and are going without income because a budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats has forced a shutdown of the government.

Overall, more than 600 000 federal workers have been affected by the shutdown, according to media reports.

"I need to put food on my table, too, even if it's going to make me fat," Miller said with a laugh, but her eyes shone with anger.

"I deserve to be in line, getting whatever benefits I can get."