Salem food pantries are expecting “chaos” over the weekend despite a federal judge on Friday ordering the Trump administration to issue food benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.

State officials said it’s not clear if or when food benefits could be issued, leaving the 750,000 Oregonians who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in limbo. The amount of money available in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s emergency funds is only enough to pay partial benefits .

“In general, we are hearing from pantries that they are expecting a large amount of chaos tomorrow. They are worried about it. They are seeing an uptick in their pantry-goers,” said Sam West, spokeswoman for the Marion Polk Food Share, which supplies food to dozens of local pantries. “Peop

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