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14h ago

WIC Funding Teeters as Shutdown Pauses USDA Payments

A White House plan to tap tariff revenue faces legal questions.

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Officials at the Lower Shore WIC office in Salisbury said they have funding for the next few weeks — but aren’t sure what happens after that. The federally funded program is among those affected by the government shutdown. (Josh Davis/Staff)
Volunteers from Philip Morris International US, USI Insurance Services, Liberty Bank and regular volunteers pack food for distribution by Connecticut Foodshare’s mobile pantries, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. Philip Morris International US donated $100,000 to Connecticut Foodshare in recognition of Hunger Action Month. Connecticut Foodshare provides food to at least one pantry in each of Connecticut’s 169 towns and cities. “Because of our efficiency and our volunteer force here, every dollar donated we can turn into two meals, so $100,000 is great — 200,000 meals is even better,” said Jason Jakubowski, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
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Overview

  • USDA halted FY2026 allocations and is offering up to $150 million in contingency funds that advocates warn may cover only one to two weeks of operations.
  • Connecticut is temporarily financing WIC from its common cash pool, and Colorado approved $7.5 million to keep benefits running through October.
  • Arizona officials say leftover funding could run out by the end of October, and other states caution they cannot sustain services much longer without federal support.
  • The administration proposes using Section 232 tariff receipts to backstop WIC, but the amount and process are unclear and legal analysts say Congress may need to authorize it.
  • With about 6.7 million participants and roughly $7.2 billion in annual costs, providers in places like New York and Oklahoma report growing concern from parents as they brace for possible benefit gaps.