(NEXSTAR) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that federal food aid will not be paid out in November than that The government shutdown is dragging on. This leaves more than 40 million people who rely on SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) without their benefits.
Some states have said They will step in to provide funding for SNAP – While SNAP is overseen by the USDA, it is administered by state programs – or will provide additional support to food banks.
It is also possible that some SNAP beneficiaries will continue to receive food assistance through WIC or the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
However, there is also a risk that these funds will arid up.
Like SNAP, federal programs handle WIC, which administers food assistance and other services to low-income pregnant women, modern mothers, those providing breast milk to an enrolled baby under one year ancient, and those caring for a child under five years ancient. According to the National WIC Association (NWA), nearly 7 million people in the United States receive WIC benefits.
WIC was on track to run out of funds by early October but received a boost 300 million dollars from President Trump’s tariff revenue to maintain the benefits throughout the month. However, these resources may not be enough for much longer.
Some states have announced that they want to intervene to close the gap. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said earlier this month that the state would do so Use funds from its reserves to maintain operations of its WIC program. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said Monday $7.3 million in federal emergency funding has been approved for employ to ensure WIC benefits are available by December 23rd. The funds will only be used if the USDA does not offer assistance. local outlets reported.
Others say it’s business as usual so far.
New York’s WIC program is not expected to be impacted by the government shutdown website. WIC programs in Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, OregonAnd Wyoming say they remain open, while Oklahoma’s program said last week it was “open and operating as usual.”
Officials in California said last week that they expect the state’s WIC program “to be fully operational by November 30” and that those enrolled in WIC should be as well Continue to take advantage of their benefits until the local WIC office tells you otherwise.
Health officials in Utah And Minnesota said their WIC programs will continue to be available through November. In Washington StateThe benefits are expected to be available “by mid to late November.” Wyoming’s WIC program said Friday that the benefits are expected to be available “at least through November.”
In other states the situation appears to be worse.
Last week, Colorado officials said the WIC program “may continue through at least October 2025.” No update for November.
In Wisconsin, officer say October WIC benefits will be available and “based on what we know today, November benefits will be available.”
Funding for WIC in Ohio is expected to be available through November, but a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health wouldn’t say whether it would last through the month, according to a report.
Benefits may no longer be valid until “early November,” according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Mondayand added that “all options are currently being explored to maintain these benefits if NCDHHS does not receive federal funding for WIC.”
If you are unsure whether your WIC benefits will stop next month, you may want to contact your local agency.
Meanwhile a Bill that would fund WIC during the government shutdown was introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill, The Hill reported, is relatively similar to a separate bill to fund SNAP during the shutdown.
