Government Shutdown Puts Food Aid Program for Low-Income Families at Risk
The ongoing government shutdown has put the $8 billion Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) at risk of running out of federal funds within two weeks. This program provides essential nutrition assistance to over 6 million low-income mothers and young children, offering vouchers for infant formula, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk, and other healthy staples. With the shutdown coinciding with the start of a new fiscal year, programs like WIC, which rely on annual federal infusions, are nearly out of money.
Currently, a $150 million contingency fund is keeping the program afloat, but experts warn that it could run dry quickly. After that, states may need to step in to pay for the program and seek reimbursement when a budget finally passes. However, not all states say they can afford to do so. According to Ali Hard, policy director for the National WIC Association, “We feel good about one to two weeks. After that, we are very worried.” The shutdown has raised concerns among families who rely on WIC, with many fearing that they will struggle to feed their children nutritious food.
The Impact on Families
Taylor Moyer, a mother of three from Virginia Beach, has been receiving WIC since her first son was born nine years ago. She credits the program with allowing her to feed her children healthy food that she otherwise could not afford. “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.” Moyer’s story highlights the critical role that WIC plays in supporting low-income families and ensuring that they have access to nutritious food.
State Responses to the Shutdown
In response to the shutdown, several states have pledged to continue funding WIC benefits, at least in the short term. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, announced that the state will pick up the tab if federal funding runs out. “I want those young families, those moms, to know that your WIC card will continue to be good for the foreseeable future,” Lamont said. Mississippi has also pledged to continue current WIC recipients’ benefits, although it has temporarily suspended enrollment for new participants except for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or seeking benefits for high-risk infants.
However, not all states are in a position to continue funding WIC benefits. In Washington state, where a third of babies receive WIC benefits, officials say they do not have the money to keep the program open. “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. The shutdown has raised concerns among families who rely on WIC, with many fearing that they will struggle to feed their children nutritious food.
Moyer warned that ending the program could be catastrophic for recipients. “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.” The shutdown has highlighted the critical role that WIC plays in supporting low-income families and ensuring that they have access to nutritious food.
Read more about the government shutdown and its impact on the WIC program Here
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