WASHINGTON, DC—Following a vote in the House of Representatives tonight, Congress has passed a bill to end the 43-day government shutdown. It will now head to President Trump for approval.
The deal fully funds WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, for fiscal year 2026, providing much-needed certainty that every eligible family can continue to be served by the program. It also protects WIC's cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables, rejecting proposed cuts that would have dramatically reduced families’ access to nutritious foods.
The following is a statement from Georgia Machell, president and CEO of NWA:
“Tonight’s vote provides a long-overdue sigh of relief for the millions of WIC families and the dedicated staff who serve them. We are grateful that this bill fully funds WIC for FY26, providing families with the stability they deserve from their government. By fully funding WIC and protecting fruit and vegetable benefits from harmful cuts, Congress has upheld a nearly 30-year, bipartisan commitment to millions of our nation’s mothers and children.
“The shutdown caused immense stress for families who rely on WIC as a lifeline, as well as for the staff who work tirelessly to support them. Families must be able to count on WIC, SNAP, and other basic needs programs to be there for them, even in times of political uncertainty.
“While we celebrate this resolution, we cannot ignore the profound damage that shutdowns inflict. To prevent future crises, Congress must act to fortify WIC. We urge lawmakers to strengthen the program’s contingency fund to cover at least one month of operating costs and to establish stronger guardrails to protect bipartisan commitments from being weaponized for political games.
“As we look to the future, Congress has a clear opportunity to lock in the successes of modernized WIC services by September 2026, when waivers that support virtual services in WIC are due to expire. H.R. 1464 offers a common-sense bipartisan solution to ensure continued access to WIC for all families while maintaining strong program integrity. We urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay to secure WIC’s modernization and ensure no family loses access to the vital nutrition and health services they need."