As the federal government remains shut down, more than 40 million Americans are at risk of missing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning in November. At the same time, nearly 7 million people who rely on the **Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may also see their assistance end if the shutdown continues.
How WIC Works
WIC is a short-term support program overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) but administered by each state. It helps pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children under age 5. Eligibility includes being pregnant, having given birth within the last six months, nursing a baby under age 1, or caring for a young child under age 5.
Timeline of the Crisis
- At the start of the shutdown, the National WIC Association (NWA) warned that funds were only sufficient for roughly one to two weeks of benefits.
- WIC has also been able to use leftover grant money from the previous fiscal year under USDA’s contingency plan—but only for a limited time.
- On October 7, the White House pledged $300 million from tariff revenues to keep WIC funded through October.
- Now, with the shutdown still ongoing, state WIC agencies are again facing shortages.
What Are the States Doing?
Some states are stepping in:
- In Connecticut, the governor committed to using state reserve funds to keep WIC running.
- In North Carolina’s Forsyth County, officials say WIC funding is guaranteed until at least November 15.
- Kansas health officials report that food funds are expected to last into November, although formula pickup at clinics has been temporarily suspended due to the shutdown.
- In California, the state’s WIC program expects to stay fully operational through November 30, assuming no additional federal disruptions.
- Utah and Minnesota report that their WIC programs will continue into November.
- New York’s WIC program indicates it likely will not be affected, and Michigan says its program is still open.
- In Colorado, WIC officials say the program will continue “at least through October 2025” as of their last update.
What’s the Big Picture?
If emergency funding isn’t approved soon, state WIC agencies warn they may be forced to take drastic action—such as stopping benefit issuance or scaling back services. The NWA has sent a letter, backed by 44 organisations, urging the White House for additional emergency funds this week to prevent service disruptions starting November 1.
