US EditionWIC Becomes a Political Football in Shutdown
Shutdown forces reliance on limited contingency funds and state resources to maintain WIC benefits for 6.7 million low-income mothers and children, with potential cuts looming next year.
- On September 30, Congress failed to pass funding, halting most federal operations and putting WIC funding at immediate risk as resources run out.
- WIC is structured as a discretionary program dependent on annual congressional appropriations, and this year it entered a new fiscal cycle without FY26 funding, increasing challenges amid rising participation and costs.
- The program is operating mainly on a contingency fund of $150 million, which is nearly depleted, while the administration moved $300 million in unused tariff revenue to WIC through the end of October.
- The Inter‑Tribal Council of Nevada WIC and several states secured short-term funds to stay open through the end of October, while others suspended new enrollments or lack capacity to maintain benefits.
- Congressional options range from making WIC mandatory to budget cuts, as House Democrats introduced a bill to protect WIC, while President Trump proposed cutting produce benefits up to 75%, and House Republicans passed a continuing resolution through Nov. 21.
15 Articles
15 Articles
As WIC Funding Dwindles During the Government Shutdown, Parents Worry
April Perez was 22 years old when she had her first daughter. Enrolling in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, was a lifesaver. “With her being my first child,” she said, “I was still finding my way through motherhood.” The program helped her access healthy foods for her family, get formula when she wasn’t able to produce enough… Source
WIC gets a lifeline — but millions of families still face uncertainty
When the federal government shut down, WIC, the popular program that helps millions of low-income mothers and young children stay healthy, nearly went dark, too. The ongoing stalemate between Democrats and Republicans sidetracked the process to fund it for the fiscal year. Last week, the Trump administration threw the program a lifeline: $300 million to keep the program going. The short-term fix, however, obscures a larger problem. Because WIC…
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Babies and Children (WIC) is one of the aid schemes that have been affected by the closure of the U.S. government.
WIC becomes a political football in shutdown
By D’Angelo Gore ANALYSIS ― The Trump administration has said while the federal government is shut down, tariff revenue will be used to fund a key federal program that provides food aid and other services to nearly 7 million low-income women and young children. But as the shutdown entered its second week last week, Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for that program being in a financial bind. U.S. residents are divided on which politica…
WIC Becomes a Political Football in Shutdown
The Trump administration has said while the federal government is shut down, tariff revenue will be used to fund a key federal program that provides food aid and other services to nearly 7 million low-income women and young children. But as the shutdown entered its second week last week, Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for that program being in a financial bind. U.S. residents are divided on which political party deserves blame for t…
For families who rely on WIC funding, the government shutdown is deepening uncertainty
This article originally appeared in The 74. April Perez was 22 years old when she had her first daughter. Enrolling in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, was a lifesaver. “With her being my first child,” she said, “I was still finding my way through motherhood.” The program helped her access healthy foods for her family, get formula when she wasn’t able to produce enough breastmilk…
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