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Two former Food and Drug Administration lawyers have a creative possibility for how the agency could continue to do some of its work if the shutdown drags on: argue that reviewing certain drugs is essential to protecting people’s lives. Parts of the federal government, including the FDA, have already been shut down for five weeks, and there’s no sign yet that President Trump and congressional leaders are nearing a deal to reopen it. (Swetlitz, 1/25)

The Food and Drug Administration’s drug and medical device divisions were supposed to be spared from the brunt of the shutdown’s impact given their reliance on industry-paid fees instead of a government appropriation. But as the shutdown drags on into a second month, the FDA says those divisions are also running out of money — and work to do — and at some point will have to furlough employees that the agency has struggled to recruit and retain in recent years. One concerned industry group wants Congress to consider a short-term solution if it can’t pass any spending bills. (Siddons, 1/24)

President Trump suggested Thursday that grocery stores and banks will give a break to the 800,000 federal workers who are without pay due to the partial government shutdown. Trump was responding to a question about comments Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross made hours earlier. Ross had prompted a wave of criticism after he claimed not to understand why furloughed workers were visiting food banks and suggested they take out a loan to cover their lost wages. (Sonmez, 1/24)

Concern is mounting across the country over whether the government shutdown might have an effect on school lunches. The US Department of Agriculture's child nutrition programs -- which provide low-cost or free school meals to children in need -- are fully funded through the end of March, according to a tweet from USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on Friday. (Howard, 1/24)

There's been a blizzard this week in Utah, and still, State Forester Brian Cottam is preoccupied with forest fires. Usually, he and his team would be making plans with the federal government to help prevent fires. Even once the snow lets up, though, he's not sure when he'll get back to work with his federal colleagues. Fire prevention is a collaborative effort with local, state and federal agencies and private landowners -- and it's being held up because of the federal government shutdown. (Christensen, 1/24)

Chuck Schumer emerged from Mitch McConnell’s office after a 30-minute meeting on Thursday afternoon bearing a wide grin. “We’re talking,” the Senate minority leader said as he walked back to his office. After five weeks of mostly radio silence, with Washington reeling from the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the two party leaders are finally in a room together. (Everett, 1/25)