Overview

• USDA notified state agencies they will not receive their FY2026 quarterly WIC allocation due to a lack of federal funds during the shutdown.
• The department intends to provide up to $150 million in contingency support and has advised states to use infant-formula manufacturer rebates or state dollars where possible.
• The National WIC Association and state officials warn federal resources could be depleted in one to two weeks if the funding impasse continues.
• State responses vary: Connecticut pledged to cover benefits if needed, while Washington state says it can only sustain payments for about one to two weeks without federal money.
• Longer-term funding is unsettled, with FY2025 at roughly $7.6 billion, a House plan keeping funding flat and reducing fruit-and-vegetable benefits, and a Senate bill proposing about $8.2 billion.