A judge is set to decide whether SNAP benefits can be cut off on Saturday

Volunteers with New York Common Pantry help to prepare food packages Wednesday in New York City. Across the country, food banks and food pantries are preparing for a potential surge of people needing food as federal SNAP payments are set to be suspended on Saturday due to the federal government shutdown.

A Boston federal judge suggested she was not persuaded by the Trump administration's argument that it is legally barred from using a USDA emergency fund to keep the SNAP benefits coming.

(Image credit: Michael M. Santiago)