The Trump Administration’s proposed budget for WIC would harm millions of American families who are most at risk for nutritional deficiencies. If enacted, these cuts would mean a significant reduction in monthly fruit and vegetable benefits, from $54 to $13 for breastfeeding mothers and from $27 to $10 for young children.
WASHINGTON, DC—On Friday morning, the White House released President Trump’s budget request for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). The plan calls for deep cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), putting the health and food security of millions of low-income families at risk.
The following is a statement from Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, on the President’s Budget Request for FY27.
“We are stunned to see another attempt by the Trump administration to cut access to healthy foods through WIC. Just last year, the President proposed slashing WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefits by nearly two-thirds. This budget makes that same damaging cut.
“Additionally, the funding proposed in this budget may not be sufficient to cover the food costs for all eligible participants, as food costs are expected to continue to rise due to tariffs, inflation, and the ongoing war in Iran. It will be important for Congress to continue to monitor food price projections as a final FY27 funding level for WIC is determined.
“These cuts break with the Trump Administration’s support for WIC during the 2025 government shutdown and directly contradict the administration’s stated goal to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ WIC is a proven public health investment during the most critical developmental stages: pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. By slashing the fruit and vegetable benefits and not ensuring sufficient program funding, this administration is taking healthy foods away from children and mothers most at risk for nutritional deficiencies. The proposed reductions would roll back WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefits to levels not seen since before the previous science-based increase in 2021, undermining a proven investment in child and maternal health. This plan is short-sighted, hypocritical, and, if passed by Congress, will harm American families.
“The science-based increase to WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefits has led to meaningful improvements in how families eat. Young children now consume an additional ¼ cup of fruits and vegetables per day, and parents report being better able to afford a healthier, more varied diet. The proposed cuts would reverse that progress, reducing benefits to levels that would meet just 19% of the recommended intake for children and 12% for breastfeeding mothers, short of what families need to support healthy growth and development.
“The proposed budget also fails to address the critical need for Congress to permanently authorize flexible services in WIC, ensuring that families can continue to access care virtually while still receiving in-person health assessments through WIC or a healthcare provider.
“The only bright spot in the proposal is the recommended $500 million boost to the WIC contingency fund, which would better position USDA to respond to future government shutdowns or other emergencies.
“We are grateful that Congress rejected these proposed cuts in the FY 2026 funding agreement, continuing its 30-year bipartisan history of fully funding WIC. We look forward to working with Congress again to ensure no benefit cuts, full funding for all eligible families seeking WIC services, and permanent access to flexible WIC services.”