As the government shutdown drags into its third week, advocates continue to raise concerns over funding for federal food assistance programs.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, helps low-income expectant mothers and mothers with young children cover the costs of baby formula, milk, and fresh produce. It also provides breastfeeding support and nutrition education programs.
WIC has more than 150,000 participants in Arizona.
“These programs are critically important,” said Jamie Bussel, senior program officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation “They help kids grow up healthy, do well in school. They help families stay out of poverty.”
The federal government shutdown took effect before WIC got its annual appropriation, so the program faces the risk of running out of funds quickly.
The White House last week said it would allocate about $300 million in tariff revenue to keep WIC running, at least through the end of October.
But, Bussel warned that’s just a temporary fix and said WIC programs in some states may have to close their doors within weeks.
“There are really no details on actually how that would work,” Bussel said. “What that means is, if and when federal funding runs out, there will be some states that will be able to fill the gap. There will be many states that will not be able to fill the gap.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services, which administers the program in Arizona, said WIC clinics in this state remain open for now.
“ADHS is continuing to monitor and understand the impacts of the federal government shutdown, and will provide updates as the issue evolves,” a statement from ADHS said. “We encourage participants with questions to visit azwic.gov or to call us at 1-800-252-5942.”
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