Overview:
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program, also called WIC, connects more than 6 million people to nutritious food. And it’s hanging on by a thread because of the government shutdown.
When the federal government shut down Oct. 1, 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 — formally known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — a lifeline: $300 million to keep the program going. The White House announced the allocation on social media.
The short-term fix, however, obscures a larger problem. Because WIC hasn’t been funded in the federal budget, cash-strapped states must temporarily cover the cost. While the $300 million will help keep them afloat, state funding is patchy at best — some can only manage through the end of October — and there’s no guarantee some expectant moms or babies won’t go hungry.
RELATED: Risk to Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Forces Extended Shutdown
Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, said the White House allocation is a “welcome” step in the right direction, but patchwork solutions will only go so far.
“Families need long-term stability, not short-term uncertainty,” Machell said in a statement. “We still don’t know how much funding this measure provides, how quickly states will receive it, or how long it will sustain operations.”
Established in 1974, WIC is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5 buy nutritious food. The program, which also provides support for breastfeeding, nutrition education, and healthcare, helps new moms, babies, and young children stave off malnutrition, which can cause lifelong cognitive and health issues.
Participants can use WIC to buy fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk, and infant formula. More than half of WIC recipients are children, and a little more than 21% of WIC recipients are Black.
Because it’s not a mandatory budgeted program, Congress must renew WIC funding each year — a process sidetracked by the ongoing shutdown. When the shutdown began, the USDA released $150 million to sustain operations temporarily. But officials had warned the funds would only last one to two weeks in certain states.
Keeping Moms and Infants Healthy
“It’s a terrible situation to be in,” says Ali Hard, director of public policy for the National WIC Association. “States are trying to minimize disruptions for families, but the [budget] uncertainty makes planning nearly impossible.”
Another wrinkle might force some states to dip into funds they get from infant formula rebates. Manufacturers typically send these monthly payments to states that have contracts with them.
“Abbott, one of the two main infant formula companies, has agreed to expedite payments, so states contracting with Abbott are slightly better positioned,” Hard says.
GOP Budget Cuts Would Cripple the Program
Then there are the cuts to WIC that are called for in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July. Advocates say the bill also underfunds WIC so states will have to turn away eligible applicants and reconsider its modernization program once the budget takes effect.
Earlier this year, the Senate approved a bill that would have allocated $8.2 billion to WIC, which was an increase over the previous year. But the House of Representatives proposed a $100 million cut to WIC, including reductions to the fruit and vegetable benefit for young children and breastfeeding mothers.
“WIC has been modernizing for about a decade, especially since the American Rescue Plan Act, which invested $390 million,” says Hard. “We’ve launched telehealth-style remote appointments and begun piloting online shopping in 14 states. It’s not yet nationwide, but it’s a big shift toward making WIC fit modern family life.”
Congress will need to maintain or increase WIC’s funding to prevent cuts to benefits and continue the modernization that supports underserved geographic areas.
“There is no substitute for Congress doing its job. WIC needs full-year funding, not just temporary lifelines,” says Machell. It’s imperative that leaders in Washington come together and act immediately to ensure that millions of families can continue to access the critical nutrition, care, and support they count on every day.”