US EditionWA’s Nutrition Program for Babies and Mothers Is at Risk During Federal Shutdown
Washington’s WIC program serves over 212,000 residents and faces potential closure within two weeks due to funding shortages caused by the federal government shutdown.
- On Tuesday, the federal government shutdown began, leaving no new appropriations and putting Washington's Women, Infants and Children program at risk of ceasing operations within one to two weeks.
- Because WIC is renewed each year through congressional appropriations, it is exposed during a shutdown after U.S. Congress failed to pass a stopgap funding measure Tuesday.
- DOH will temporarily lay off about 50 employees starting October 6 whose positions in the Office of Nutrition Services support WIC clinic staff and contractors across about 200 offices.
- WIC provides healthy food and breastfeeding support for mothers and infants, including nutrition counseling and health screenings that many low-income mothers and young children in Washington rely on.
- The National WIC Association says contingency funds last roughly one week, serving nearly 7 million Americans, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture or states may need to fill funding gaps.
13 Articles
13 Articles
US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans
By Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Crucial food assistance for about 6.7 million low-income Americans has been put in jeopardy by a federal government shutdown that the deeply divided U.S. Congress shows no signs of resolving swiftly. The threat to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, illustrates how the effects of a shutdown that enters its second day on Thursday will rever…
The Columbian
WA’s nutrition program for babies and mothers is at risk during federal shutdown
Washington women and their babies could lose access to benefits under a key nutrition program in the case of a prolonged federal government shutdown. Read more...
The federal shutdown puts nutrition aid for millions of new parents at risk
Nearly seven million pregnant women and young children depend on WIC for healthy foods. Advocates say funding could run out in about two weeks, leaving states to close the gap if their budgets allow.
Federal shutdown jeopardizes critical support for infants, children, and pregnant people
Washington’s WIC program could cease operations as soon as one to two weeks into shutdownOLYMPIA – With the federal government now shut down, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is assessing immediate impacts and working with partners to minimize disruptions to critical public health services. One of the most at-risk services is Washington’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides healthy food and nutrition support…
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