Overview

• Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee approved $7.5 million to bridge any gap for WIC, with state leaders cautioning their capacity is limited and expecting federal reimbursement later.
• New Jersey’s health department said NJ WIC will stay open during a shutdown and urged residents to keep appointments and continue using eWIC cards.
• Advocates say families could feel WIC disruptions within about a week during a prolonged lapse, with more than 6 million women and children relying on the program.
• SNAP benefits are expected to continue for roughly 30 days based on past shutdowns, though a longer lapse could put November payments at risk.
• Political tensions persist as some Senate Democrats question warnings of immediate WIC disruption, while a House-passed stopgap opposed by Democrats included $600 million for the program.