As the government shutdown enters its second week, the food aid program that serves over 6 million low-income mothers and young children is in jeopardy of running out of federal funds. Experts warn that unless the shutdown concludes soon, states may need to use their own financial resources to keep the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, operational, or face its imminent cessation.
The WIC program, which commands an annual budget of $8 billion, provides essential vouchers for purchasing nutritious foods. This includes infant formula, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk, and other staples that are often financially inaccessible for families in need.
This crisis coincides with the new fiscal year, placing additional pressure on WIC and similar federal programs that rely on annual funding. Currently, WIC is sustaining itself with a $150 million contingency fund, but experts project that resources may be depleted quickly without an infusion of federal dollars.
Ali Hard, the policy director for the National WIC Association, expressed her concerns, stating, “We feel good about one to two weeks. After that, we are very worried.”
WIC has been a lifeline for families, providing access to healthier food options. One beneficiary, Taylor Moyer, a mother of three from Virginia Beach, reflects on the significance of the program. Since her first child was born nine years ago, WIC has enabled her to afford nutritious meals, especially during difficult times following her separation from her husband.
“There’s been times where I have sat back in my house and really wondered how I was going to feed my family,” Moyer said. “And I went to the store with my WIC card … I get rice, I got avocados, I got eggs, and I made a balanced meal that was actually good.”
The government’s funding impasse stems from a failure between Democrats and Republicans to agree on a new budget plan. While Democratic lawmakers advocate for the extension of tax credits aimed at reducing healthcare costs for millions, as well as the reversal of recent Medicaid cuts, they have refused to endorse any budget that lacks these provisions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, shifted the blame for the shutdown onto the Democrats, highlighting the irony in their refusal to fund the government, which subsequently jeopardizes critical health programs like WIC.
The WIC initiative, traditionally enjoying bipartisan support, serves pregnant women and children up to age five. Research indicates that participation in WIC correlates with a decline in infant mortality rates, improved birth weights, better immunization rates, and enhanced educational outcomes. It is noteworthy that nearly half of those eligible for the program do not enroll, often due to misconceptions regarding eligibility or difficulties in accessing local WIC offices.
However, some Republican lawmakers are advocating for cuts to the WIC program, indicating plans for its elimination in the ambitious Project 2025, a policy agenda crafted by the current administration’s budget director. Furthermore, the budget proposed by House Republicans fails to fully fund WIC and seeks to reduce financial support for purchasing fresh produce.
In response to the ongoing situation, several states have stepped forward to reassure WIC recipients. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state would cover expenses if federal funding runs out, ensuring continued benefits for families. “I want those young families, those moms, to know that your WIC card will continue to be good for the foreseeable future,” Lamont stated. “We’re making sure that the government does not take that away from you.”
Mississippi has also committed to maintaining benefits for current WIC participants while halting enrollment for new clients, with exceptions made for pregnant and breastfeeding women and families with high-risk infants.
On the other hand, in Washington state—where approximately one-third of infants receive WIC assistance—officials report a lack of funds to continue the program. “Washington WIC may be able to sustain benefits for one to two weeks before a federal shutdown would force a full closure of the program,” said Raechel Sims, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health. “If the shutdown lasts longer than that, DOH does not have the ability to backfill WIC funding.”
Moyer warns that halting WIC could have dire consequences for many families. “There is going to be infants skipping feeds. There is going to be pregnant women skipping meals so that they can feed their toddlers,” she said. “And it means that people are not going to have a balanced and healthy diet.”
This ongoing situation places considerable stress on families who rely on WIC for their nutritional needs, highlighting the program’s critical role in supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
