The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that federal food assistance will not be available in November due to the ongoing government shutdown. This decision could impact over 40 million individuals who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
Some states are considering alternatives, such as stepping in with their own funding for SNAP or providing extra support for food banks. There’s also a chance that certain SNAP recipients might still get help from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which offers nutritional assistance.
However, funding for WIC could also be at risk. WIC assists low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and caregivers for children under five, with nearly 7 million people benefiting from it in the U.S. Although WIC was expected to run out of funds earlier in October, it received a $300 million boost from tariff revenues, allowing it to function through this month—but those resources aren’t likely to last.
States are stepping up to help where they can. For instance, Connecticut’s Governor announced plans to use state reserves to support WIC operations. Similarly, Nevada’s Governor mentioned that $7.3 million in emergency funds has been approved to keep WIC benefits accessible until December 23, assuming federal assistance doesn’t come through.
Interestingly, some areas report that everything is running smoothly for now. New York City’s WIC program is said to remain unaffected by the shutdown, while states like Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon, and Wyoming have voiced similar reassurances. California officials predict their WIC program will be fully operational by the end of November, instructing recipients to use their benefits unless told otherwise.
In other states, however, conditions appear grimmer. For example, Colorado officials mentioned their WIC program is assured to run through at least October 2025, but without updates through November. In Wisconsin, there are indications that WIC benefits for October are available, with November benefits looking likely. Ohio expects to have funding in place as well, but officials haven’t clarified how long it will last.
Meanwhile, North Carolina’s health department mentioned that their benefits might not extend beyond early November and is exploring various options to sustain them if federal support isn’t forthcoming.
If anyone is unsure about their WIC benefits for next month, reaching out to local representatives would be wise.
In parallel, a new bill aimed at supporting WIC during the government shutdown was introduced in the House, mirroring another proposed bill for SNAP funding.
