US EditionWA’s Nutrition Program for Babies and Mothers Is at Risk During Federal Shutdown
Washington's WIC program supports over 212,000 women and children but faces funding shortages with only one to two weeks of contingency funds available amid the federal shutdown.
- The government officially shut down at midnight on Tuesday, putting funding for the nationwide Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program at risk.
- The shutdown resulted from Congress failing to pass a short-term funding bill, leaving no new money for WIC and other agencies to spend.
- WIC supports nearly 7 million Americans by providing nutritious foods, breastfeeding assistance, and health screenings, but current contingency funds are estimated to last only about one to two weeks.
- Nicole Flateboe of Nutrition First said, "It's a big mess" and warned more food insecurity and layoffs for about 50 state employees tied to federal dollars would start October 6.
- The shutdown could disrupt WIC access for Washington families, forcing some offices to triage services and risking loss of critical support for mothers and children if funding gaps persist.
12 Articles
12 Articles
US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans
By Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Crucial food assistance for about 6.7 million low-income Americans has been put in jeopardy by a federal government shutdown that the deeply divided U.S. Congress shows no signs of resolving swiftly. The threat to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, illustrates how the effects of a shutdown that enters its second day on Thursday will rever…
The Columbian
WA’s nutrition program for babies and mothers is at risk during federal shutdown
Washington women and their babies could lose access to benefits under a key nutrition program in the case of a prolonged federal government shutdown. Read more...
The federal shutdown puts nutrition aid for millions of new parents at risk
Nearly seven million pregnant women and young children depend on WIC for healthy foods. Advocates say funding could run out in about two weeks, leaving states to close the gap if their budgets allow.
Federal shutdown jeopardizes critical support for infants, children, and pregnant people
Washington’s WIC program could cease operations as soon as one to two weeks into shutdownOLYMPIA – With the federal government now shut down, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is assessing immediate impacts and working with partners to minimize disruptions to critical public health services. One of the most at-risk services is Washington’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides healthy food and nutrition support…
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