WASHINGTON, DC–Today, the National WIC Association (NWA) learned that $450 million in additional federal section 32 funding has been allocated to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The White House Office of Management and Budget has initiated the transfer of these child nutrition funds, with state agencies expected to receive them within the next two days.
While this is a critical step in maintaining WIC services, it’s only a temporary fix. Without a finalized federal appropriation, WIC clinics and families are left in limbo. NWA warns that this short-term solution does not provide the certainty that millions of American families and their local WIC providers need and deserve.
The following is a statement from Georgia Machell, President & CEO of the National WIC Association:
“This additional funding is a welcome relief, but it is a stopgap, not a solution. Under ordinary conditions, these resources would cover roughly three weeks of operations. However, with other vital assistance programs like SNAP disrupted, demand for WIC is likely to surge, and states could exhaust these funds even faster. Families deserve to be able to count on both of these programs to put food on their tables.
“Despite the ongoing uncertainty, WIC staff across the country are continuing to provide services to families, while being unable to fully comprehend what program operations will look like in a matter of weeks. Many of these dedicated professionals—working tirelessly on modest salaries—are under growing strain to sustain services amid the instability of the shutdown, with some already facing furloughs or concerns about their jobs. These are challenging working conditions for public health professionals on the frontlines.
“American families should not have to worry whether essential nutritional support for their infants and young children will vanish from week to week. This uncertainty is the direct result of the government shutdown, and it is unacceptable.
“We urge Congress and the White House to end this shutdown and pass full-year appropriations immediately. American families deserve certainty from their government, not the constant anxiety of short-term fixes, especially when their children's health is at stake.”