Government Shutdown’s nearly 269,856 individuals in North Carolina are at risk of losing their WIC benefits.
As Congress approaches a possible government shutdown, the White House has officially notified the public about the potential for significant reductions in funding for a program that aids many low-income families in affording wholesome food.
The White House has just unveiled a state-specific breakdown, revealing that nearly 7 million individuals who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may face the jeopardy of losing their funding for purchasing specific foods and receiving vouchers for fresh produce.
The program offers financial support to individuals with low income who are pregnant, nursing, or have children aged up to 5 years. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, during a Monday White House briefing, cautioned that the impact of the shutdown might be felt by WIC recipients in a matter of days
“Millions of those moms, (babies) and young children would see a lack of nutrition assistance” he said.
Tom Vilsack, Iowa’s former governor, has proposed that in certain states where there are surplus WIC benefits, there is potential to extend the program by approximately one week.
“According to him, a significant majority of WIC participants would experience an immediate cessation of their benefits, resulting in the unavailability of nutrition assistance.”
“It’s concerning that Alabama is looking at potentially losing benefits for about 112,000 WIC recipients. Florida’s situation is even more alarming, with over 421,000 individuals at risk. Michigan and North Carolina also have a significant number of WIC recipients, over 207,000 and 268,000 respectively, facing potential benefit loss.”
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Government Shutdown and Its Impact on WIC Recipients
“The Biden Administration’s Estimate: Nearly 7 Million Women, Infants, and Children May Lose WIC Nutrition Benefits in Case of Government Shutdown. This Program Serves Approximately Half of All US Newborns.”
Furthermore, Newly Eligible Participants Could Encounter a Backlog.
Kate Franken, the board chair of the National WIC Association, the non-profit advocacy arm of WIC, has issued a warning. She stated, “Without an urgent infusion of funds, state WIC offices might have to consider implementing waiting lists for potential participants. This would be an extreme measure, not witnessed in almost three decades.” The impending shutdown is a consequence of President Joe Biden’s agreement with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this year, which imposed spending limits for the upcoming fiscal year.
It’s a tense situation on Capitol Hill. The House has only managed to pass one of the 12 appropriations bills, and there’s a group of far-right Republicans who are adamant about deeper cuts, even if it means a government shutdown.
The White House expressed disappointment, stating, “House Republicans have abandoned the bipartisan budget deal they supported just months ago and are now suggesting a continuing resolution (CR) with significant cuts to crucial programs that millions of hardworking Americans rely on.” A continuing resolution, or CR, is a common measure to sustain government funding for several weeks or a few months while Congress completes work on the 12 annual spending bills.
If a continuing resolution (CR) isn’t in place by Saturday, marking the end of the fiscal year, we’ll face a partial shutdown. Programs that depend on discretionary funding, such as WIC, will be impacted. It’s important to note that WIC isn’t subject to mandatory spending and relies on the Agriculture appropriations bill, which Congress hasn’t passed
The White House has issued a critical statement regarding the Agriculture appropriations bill passed by the House committee. Notably, it does not incorporate the supplemental funding requested by the Biden administration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service allocates WIC funding to states using a formula. Notably, participation rates differ among states, with California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota boasting WIC coverage rates exceeding 60%.
“Without the Administration’s funding request, states could soon be forced to institute waiting lists for WIC, causing mothers and children to lose access to the vital nutrition assistance,” the White House said.
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