With SNAP in Shutdown Jeopardy, WIC Program for Families With Young Children Safe for Now

With the federal government shutdown now in its third week, and with no signs of ending anytime soon, Californians who use national social services programs are becoming increasingly concerned about the impacts on their benefits.

On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that the shutdown “will likely delay food benefits” in November for people using CalFresh — California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps — “if President Trump and Congress do not reopen the federal government by October 23, or take action to fund benefits.”

• Jump straight to: Do I need to do anything right now if I’m on WIC?

Another federally funded initiative that’s been the cause of concern during the shutdown is the Women, Infants, & Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC), which provides support to low-income families with young children or who are expecting a child. WIC helps parents receive food assistance to purchase items like fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, formula and baby food, as well as offering infant nutrition aid, including free breastfeeding support.

But for now, the California Department of Public Health confirms that families using WIC can at least be assured that these particular benefits should stay in place throughout November.

“We project to remain fully operational through November 30, assuming no unexpected changes at the federal government level,” CDPH said in a statement on Wednesday.

A huge number of Californians depend on WIC. According to CDPH, the program serves approximately 1 million participants statewide each month. Additionally, around “60 percent of all California resident births in a given year are eligible for the WIC program,” CDPH said.

How is WIC funded?

WIC is handled by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is funded by different sources of money, including money granted by Congress, reallocations of unspent funds from the year prior and rebates from infant formula manufacturers. States can also use their own funds to supplement their WIC program.

With the USDA’s $150 million contingency fund for WIC quickly used up by states in the first week of the shutdown, on Oct. 10, the WIC program received a $300 million infusion from President Donald Trump’s administration — which the White House said came from unspent tariff revenue from the last fiscal year. CDPH said these additional funds are allowing WIC to continue through the shutdown.

However, some states facing financial difficulties, like Washington, may still struggle to continue their WIC program in the coming weeks. “Several [states] are set to run out of funds to pay for WIC benefits on November 1 and may need to start making contingency plans as early as next week,” read an Oct. 21 statement from Georgia Machell, the president of the National WIC Association.

“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 said.

And while WIC is expected to stay afloat in California, the state may still face a difficult road ahead. Sarah Diaz, a coordinator with the California WIC Association, said about half of the families in the WIC program also receive support from CalFresh, meaning that half a million of those people could potentially see their SNAP payments stop in November during the shutdown.

What to do right now if you’re on WIC

CDPH said that the agency “continues to monitor the federal budget situation and the potential impact of a government shutdown on the WIC program.”

When it comes to the shutdown, “things can always change depending on different variables and USDA actions,” Diaz said. “But right now, the expectation is that WIC should continue operations in November and participants should continue coming in.”

This means people in California should still keep their appointments, use their WIC cards at stores and apply for benefits, she said. Diaz added there could be some “interruptions” if the “shutdown continues for a really extended period,” but for now, “nothing has changed.”

Government employees who have been furloughed during the shutdown may also be eligible for WIC benefits since “even temporary changes in income can make you qualify,” Diaz said.

See the latest updates about WIC in California.

This story contains reporting from KQED’s Carly Severn.