Those among the 42 million enrolled in the program worry that cutoff of the benefit will send their lives into a tailspin

Across the country, Americans who depend on government help to buy groceries are preparing for the worst.

As a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Donald Trump has threatened to, for the first time in the program’s more than 60-year history, cut off benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (Snap). A federal judge last week prevented the US Department of Agriculture from suspending Snap altogether, but the Trump administration now says enrollees will receive only half of their usual benefits.