(NEXSTAR) – As the government shutdown continues, More than 40 million people They are on the brink Losing access to their SNAP benefits November comes.
If the shutdown continues into November, millions more who receive food assistance through WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — could find themselves without benefits as well.
Like SNAP, the WIC program — which supports low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children — is overseen by the USDA but administered by state agencies. Typically viewed as a short-term assistance program, eligibility depends on whether the woman is pregnant, has given birth to a child within the past six months, provides breast milk for a registered child under 1 year old, or is caring for a child under 5 years old.
Nearly 7 million people in the United States receive WIC benefits, according to the National WIC Association (NWA).
At the beginning of the shutdown, the NWA was turned on He warned that while funds for the program were lowThe benefits will last for approximately one or two weeks. WIC can reallocate unused grant funds from the previous fiscal year to support benefits under the USDA Shutdown Emergency Plan as well, but only for a short time.
On October 7, WIC received a lifeline, the White House said The program was injected with $300 million Of revenue from President Trump’s tariffs to maintain benefits through the month.
Nearly three weeks later, as the shutdown continued, funds at WIC began to shrink again.
“The National WIC Association is grateful for the emergency funds that kept WIC running this month,” Georgia Machel, president and CEO of the NWA, said in a statement. “However, without additional support, state WIC agencies face another looming crisis.” Press release on Tuesday. She went on to say that many government agencies will run out of money on November 1 and “may need to start making contingency plans” this week.
“NWA calls on the White House to provide additional emergency funds to avoid a short-term crisis for millions of American families who rely on WIC while Congress negotiates full-year funding for FY 2026,” Machel added.
Friday, 44 organizations signed the letter From NWA sent to the White House, requesting additional emergency funds. The funding is needed this week to “avoid significant disruptions to WIC” starting Saturday when the calendar flips to November, the letter said.
Without the money, state agencies “may be forced to take drastic measures that prevent families from accessing the services they need, such as cutting off food assistance,” Machel said in a statement Tuesday.
Some countries intervene to guarantee financing. In early October, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said the state would do so Using funds from its reserves to keep its WIC program running.
Officials in Forsyth CountyNorth Carolina said the state Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that “funding for WIC is expected to be available through at least November 15.”
Kansas health officials said food funds available for WIC should continue through November. Nexstar’s KSNT reportedalthough the state WIC agency has temporarily stopped making the formula available for pickup at local clinics due to the government shutdown.
California Department of Public Health Encouraging Those enrolled in WIC to continue using their benefits “unless your local WIC office tells you otherwise.” Officials said KQED on Wednesday that the state’s WIC program is expected to remain “fully operational through Nov. 30, assuming there are no unexpected changes at the federal government level.”
Health officials in Utah and Minnesota He said their WIC programs will remain available through November.
New York’s WIC program is “not expected” to be affected by the government shutdown, according to him Website. Michigan’s WIC program says so It stays open.
In addition Request funds to keep the SNAP program runningColorado Governor Jared Polis said last week that access to WIC has been extended in the state. Colorado WIC said in to update Wednesday that “the program could continue until at least October 2025.”
If you’re not sure whether your WIC benefits will be interrupted next month, you may want to contact your local agency.
Nexstar’s Alex Martichoux contributed to this report.