Three California processing facilities have been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 278 people across the United States since March, and the facilities were notified Monday the Agriculture Department is threatening to shut them down. Foster Farms, which owns the facilities, has not recalled any of its products. The outbreak, which has put 42 percent of its victims in the hospital, is not being affected by the government shutdown because the USDA’s employees working on the outbreak were recalled Tuesday as essential personnel.

The U.S. announced Wednesday it will slash hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Egypt, which experts say will create new friction between the two countries. They expect Egypt will seek assistance from U.S. rivals and strain once-strong ties between the U.S. and Egypt. The move comes as former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted in July in protests that are still continuing, prepares to face trial Nov. 4 on charges he incited the killings of opponents.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Janet Yellen as chairman of the Federal Reserve, which is the country’s central bank and a critical component of the nation’s economic recovery. Yellen, who currently holds the No. 2 spot at the Fed, would be the first woman to chair the bank if confirmed. She would replace Ben Bernanke, whose eight-year tenure as chair comes to an end Jan. 31.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Wednesday the Fisher House Foundation would pick up the costs of payments to fallen soldiers’ families, who are not getting benefits because of the government shutdown. The charity will pay the benefits during the shutdown, and the Pentagon will reimburse the foundation when the government reopens. The Defense Department pays families about $100,000 within three days of a soldier’s death.

Contact Carrie Blazina at [email protected].