With the government shutdown dragging on, millions of Americans were at risk of losing access to vital nutrition assistance programs, leaving families anxious about how to put food on the table in the coming weeks. More than 40 million recipients of SNAP benefits stood on the brink of missing payments as November approached, while millions more receiving aid through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — known as WIC — faced the same threat if the stalemate continued.
WIC, managed federally by the Department of Agriculture but operated by individual states, serves as a safety net for low-income mothers, expectant women, and children under five. Eligibility typically applies to women who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are nursing, as well as caregivers of young children. Nearly 7 million Americans currently rely on it, according to the National WIC Association (NWA).
At the onset of the shutdown, the NWA warned that funds were limited, estimating that benefits could continue for only one to two weeks. The USDA’s contingency plan permitted the use of leftover grant money from the prior fiscal year, but that measure was only a short-term fix. On October 7, the White House provided temporary relief by directing $300 million from President Trump’s tariff revenue into WIC to sustain operations through the end of the month.
That financial cushion was now nearly gone. “The National WIC Association is grateful for the emergency funds that kept WIC running this month. However, without additional support, State WIC Agencies face another looming crisis,” said NWA President and CEO Georgia Machell in a press release. She warned that many states could exhaust their reserves by November 1 and “may need to start making contingency plans” immediately.
“NWA is calling on the White House to make additional emergency funds available to avoid a short-term crisis for the millions of American families who count on WIC while Congress negotiates full-year funding for FY 2026,” Machell added. Her remarks came as pressure mounted on the administration to prevent interruptions in aid.
By Friday, 44 national organizations had joined the NWA in sending a joint letter to the White House urging swift intervention. The letter emphasized the need for action “to avoid major disruptions to WIC” when the new month began. Without emergency funding, Machell cautioned, state offices “may be forced to take drastic measures that prevent families from accessing the services they need, such as halting food benefits.”
Several states were scrambling to fill the gap. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that his state would draw from reserve funds to keep WIC operational. In North Carolina, officials said the Department of Health and Human Services had enough money “at least through November 15th.” Kansas health leaders said their WIC program could likely continue into November but noted that formula distribution at clinics had been paused due to the shutdown.
California’s Department of Public Health told participants to continue using their benefits “unless your local WIC office tells you otherwise,” noting that the state expected to stay “fully operational through November 30, assuming no unexpected changes at the federal government level.” WIC programs in Utah and Minnesota also confirmed continued service into November.
Meanwhile, officials in New York and Michigan said their programs remained unaffected, and both states continued operations as normal. Colorado Governor Jared Polis said WIC access in his state was extended, with the program reporting it could “continue through at least October 2025.”
For those unsure about their benefits, officials advised contacting local WIC agencies directly to verify whether services would continue uninterrupted. Without quick action in Washington, however, millions of families nationwide could soon face empty shelves and dwindling options.
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