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1h ago

USDA Halts Quarterly WIC Disbursements as Shutdown Enters Day Two

Advocates warn the program could exhaust stopgap reserves within one to two weeks, threatening services for about 6.7 million participants.

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

  • An official USDA letter told state WIC agencies they will not receive their next quarterly allocation during the funding lapse, leaving operations to rely on limited carryover and prior‑year reallocations.
  • State responses vary: Montana said it can cover at least the next month, Connecticut pledged short‑term continuity, and Colorado approved $7.5 million to keep WIC running in the near term.
  • USDA and outside estimates indicate WIC funds could run short as early as mid‑October without congressional action, echoing a one‑to‑two‑week timeline flagged by the National WIC Association.
  • SNAP benefits for October were issued before the shutdown and are being delivered as usual, though advocates warn prolonged furloughs could complicate administration and processing for later months.
  • Food banks from Ohio to Rhode Island and Louisiana are preparing for higher demand as families face benefit uncertainty and furloughed workers miss paychecks.