US EditionGovernment shutdown threatens WIC funding for families nationwide
WIC program funding is secured through October but a $150 million contingency fund may run out soon, risking benefits for millions if the shutdown continues, officials warn.
- On Tuesday, the federal government shutdown put the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children at risk nationwide as congressional funding has ended, leaving the program vulnerable if the shutdown continues.
- The funding lapse has forced states to weigh using their own budgets to sustain WIC services, while federal program decision-makers issue guidance on exemptions and some warn funds could run out by late October.
- $150 million in contingency funds is temporarily supporting WIC, officials say, but Washington state leaders warn it can last only another week or two while Alabama Department of Public Health shifted to one-month benefit issuance.
- Iowa and Connecticut have pledged state funding while Mississippi Department of Human Services continues payments but pauses new enrollments to blunt immediate disruption.
- The White House has cited an Office of Management and Budget memo saying there is no guarantee furloughed workers will receive back pay, while states await U.S. Department of Agriculture guidance on sustaining WIC services.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Oskaloosa Herald
Iowa Capital DispatchNearly 50K Iowa children could lose food aid in government shutdown, report says
Federal funding for programs feeding thousands of young and vulnerable Iowans could run out if the government shutdown continues, according to a report from Food & Water Watch.
Colorado Springs mom concerned over future WIC funding
The Colorado Joint Budget Committee unanimously approved Governor Jared Polis' request to allocate $7.5 million in state general fund money to keep the Women, Infants, and Children program running through October.However, no contingency plan exists if a government shutdown extends into November, leaving thousands of families uncertain about continued benefits.For mother Janna Guardado, the WIC program has been essential for her family's well-bei…
NY Bracing for Picking Up Tab for Food Stamps During Government Shutdown
The White House says it has funding to keepthe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children running during an extended government shutdown, but it is still unclear how it will get to states’ health agencies and if it will arrive before funds run out. While states have historically picked up the tab during government shutdowns, this one is testing the limits of state safety nets as federal dollars for WIC begin to dry u…
States Are Bracing for the Possibility of Picking Up the Tab for WIC During Government Shutdown
The White House says it has funding to keep the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children running during an extended government shutdown, but it is still unclear how it will get to states’ health agencies and if it will arrive before funds run out.While states have historically picked up the tab during government shutdowns, this one is testing the limits of state safety nets as federal dollars for WIC begin to dry u…
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