Millions of American parents could soon face empty shelves and hungry infants as the government shutdown drags on — and federal aid for baby formula runs dangerously low.
The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) nutrition program — a lifeline for nearly 7 million low-income mothers and children — may run out of funds as early as next week if Congress fails to act. The standoff in Washington is now threatening the most vulnerable Americans.
California officials say the program can stay afloat through November 30, but other states aren’t as lucky. “Several states are set to run out of funds to pay for WIC benefits on November 1,” warned Georgia Machell, president of the National WIC Association. “We’re urging the White House to make additional emergency funds available before a crisis hits millions of families.”
The Department of Agriculture oversees WIC, which depends on federal dollars authorized by Congress. The USDA’s $150 million emergency reserve was already drained in the first week of the shutdown. In response, President Donald Trump’s administration stepped up — adding $300 million in new emergency funding to keep programs operating while lawmakers feud.
That decisive move temporarily stabilized WIC, but the money won’t last forever. If the shutdown continues, states like Washington, Texas, Mississippi, and Minnesota may be forced to suspend payments altogether.
“This could leave millions without formula or food for November and December,” warned Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group. “If 40 million Americans start consuming less, that could take a serious bite out of our economy. Consumption drives two-thirds of U.S. GDP — so this isn’t just a humanitarian issue, it’s an economic one.”
Some states are trying to fill the gap on their own. Tennessee, Florida, and Texas are exploring ways to use state funds until the gridlock ends. “If states can keep things going just a few more weeks, we might avoid a full-blown crisis,” said Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee.
Meanwhile, frustrated families are once again paying the price for Washington’s dysfunction. The Trump administration has already tapped tariff revenues to shore up emergency programs, but that may only buy time if Congress continues to play politics with working families’ livelihoods.
For millions of mothers, every day counts. With grocery prices already rising and shelves thinning, the question is no longer if Washington will act — but whether it will act before it’s too late.