Particle.news
Download on the App Store
24 ARTICLES
·
30m ago

Shutdown Puts WIC Funding at Risk Within Weeks as USDA Pauses State Allocations

Federal transfers are paused, leaving state agencies to rely on limited reserves.

The sky begins to brighten just before sunrise behind the U.S. Capitol on the second day of a federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 2, 2025.
Image
A view of the dome of the U.S. Capitol building, during a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown that would otherwise begin October 1, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. U.S., September 19, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
The summer kickoff for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Texas May 30, 2025.

Overview

  • USDA notified state WIC directors that the next quarterly allocation will not be issued during the shutdown.
  • The National WIC Association warns available contingency, carryover funds and formula rebates could sustain services for only about one to two weeks if the stalemate continues.
  • USDA says it will administer WIC as funds allow using limited reserves, and reimbursement for any state spending to keep services running remains uncertain.
  • SNAP benefits for October are proceeding on schedule due to advance funding, though a longer shutdown could complicate later payments and processing.
  • States and charities are mobilizing: Montana and Connecticut pledged short-term support, Colorado approved $7.5 million for WIC, and food banks are preparing for higher demand with Maryland reporting a $4.5 million federal funding loss.