A federal judge in Rhode Island said he would order the Trump administration to continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, food benefits despite the government shutdown , a ruling which could spell relief for hundreds of thousands of low-income Kentuckians.

Nearly 650,000 people received SNAP benefits in Kentucky as of October, according to state data , but a prominent message appearing on the USDA's official website Oct. 27 announced no benefits would be issued beginning Nov. 1.

But the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, the National Council of Nonprofits and a number of other nonprofits and mayors filed a federal lawsuit to keep benefits flowing.

Justice Department lawyers have argued it isn’t possible to provide partial benefits for the program

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