WASHINGTON, DC—Late Friday afternoon, the White House released President Trump’s budget request for fiscal year 2026. This budget proposal outlines the programs Trump wants Congress to slash—or eliminate entirely—when they vote on government funding. The proposal includes severe reductions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), threatening the health and nutrition of millions of low-income families.
The following is a statement from Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, on the President’s Budget Request for FY26.
“We are deeply disappointed by the president’s proposed budget cuts to WIC’s nutrition assistance. This budget request falls short of the Trump Administration’s commitment to 'Make America Healthy Again,' particularly in its failure to support maternal and child health through vital nutrition programs. By cutting WIC’s Cash Value Benefits (CVB) for fruits and vegetables by two-thirds and reducing overall program funding, the proposal directly removes healthy food from the hands of low-income moms and young children who face nutritional risk. This budget doesn't just break promises; it takes healthy food off of children's plates.
“These cuts would roll back WIC's fruit and vegetable benefits to their lowest level since 2021, before the USDA's science-based increase. Since then, this critical nutrition boost has enjoyed strong bipartisan support. In the over 50 years since WIC was created, Congress has never cut WIC benefits to ensure the program had enough funding to serve its projected caseload. This devastating cut would deprive struggling families of the essential nutrition they need during critical developmental stages.
“Under this proposal, breastfeeding mothers would see their monthly benefits plummet from $54 to just $13, while young children’s benefits would drop from $27 to $10. Even with current benefit levels, WIC only covers about half of the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables that children and mothers need for good health. The proposed cuts would drastically reduce this support, leaving children with just 19% and mothers with a mere 12% of their recommended nutrition, far below what families need to thrive.
“Since the CVB increase, WIC families are eating more produce. In fact, young children on WIC are now eating an additional ¼ cup of fruits and vegetables per day, a critical boost to early nutrition. Thanks to the CVB increase, parents and caregivers said they can afford a healthier diet, increase their variety of fruits and vegetables, and serve more fruits and vegetables to their families.
“For countless families, WIC's fruit and vegetable benefits make all the difference. Parents overwhelmingly report the CVB as their primary reason for participating in the program. One in seven participants says they would be unlikely to continue on WIC if the CVB were to decrease. Increased CVB is associated with greater redemption and satisfaction and a 10% increase in household food security.
“Reducing the CVB significantly hinders access to fruits and vegetables for low-income mothers and young children at nutritional risk, the very populations this program was designed to protect. At a time when food insecurity remains a serious challenge and maternal and child health needs are urgent, these cuts would move us in the wrong direction.”
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Press Contact
Name: Whitney Carlson
Email: [email protected]
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The National WIC Association (NWA) is the nonprofit membership organization for state and local providers of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). NWA is the go-to voice for WIC staff at more than 12,000 WIC locations across the country who work to support more than 6.8 million mothers and young children. For 40 years, NWA has worked to build broad, bipartisan consensus for WIC’s programmatic goals and public health mission. NWA provides member-driven advocacy; education, guidance, and support to WIC staff; and drives innovation to strengthen WIC as we work toward a nation of healthier women, children, and their families. Learn more at www.nwica.org.