Impact of government shutdown on social security
Here’s what you need to know about Social Security payments during the ongoing government shutdown.
Funding for critical programs remains deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats in Congress as the government shutdown extends into its 14th day.
So far, programs such as Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have continued to distribute benefits to enrollees, but officials have warned that may soon become impossible for some.
The day before the shutdown began, the National WIC Association warned that the program, which provides funding to millions of low-income women and children, would run out of funding within weeks unless Congress passes a new budget.
As that deadline approached last week, the White House announced a temporary funding injection to keep the program going. But the National WIC Association warns that this temporary fix won’t be enough to keep it running long term.
Here’s what you need to know about WIC as the shutdown “barrels” toward what Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said could be “one of the longest shutdowns in American history.”
USA TODAY reached out to the White House and the National WIC Association for comment, but did not receive a response.
What is WIC?
WIC is a federal nutrition program that provides meals, education, and counseling to approximately 7 million at-risk pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, as well as infants and children up to age 5 years.
What happens to WIC during a government shutdown?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) contingency plan, WIC will continue to operate in the event of a closure as long as funding is available. However, because WIC is not designated as a “mandatory expenditure,” funding for the program is subject to regular appropriations and approvals by Congress.
Georgia Machel, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, said in a Sept. 30 news release that the program’s funding would be depleted within a week or two if the shutdown continues.
If WIC runs out of funds, it can “capture and reallocate unused grants from prior fiscal years” to state-level activities. However, according to the plan, federal operations would cease if the funds were no longer available. States can roll over up to 3% of their fiscal year 2025 funding if unused, according to the Center for Food Research and Action. The remaining funds will be returned to USDA and reallocated to fiscal year 2026.
If the federal government runs out of money, states and local governments can fill in the gaps if they have the money and later apply for reimbursement from the federal government.
How much funding was provided to WIC at one time?
On October 7, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a social media post that the White House had found “creative ways” to continue funding WIC through tariff revenue. On October 9, the Associated Press reported that $300 million of unused tariff revenue and remaining funds from other programs had been injected into the program. At least some states began receiving funds by that afternoon.
Some, like Alaska and Washington, told The Associated Press the funding would last until late October or early November.
“While we welcome efforts to keep WIC open during the shutdown, families need long-term stability, not short-term uncertainty,” Machel said in an Oct. 7 statement. “There is no substitute for the work of Congress. WIC needs year-round funding, not just a temporary lifeline.”
USDA told USA TODAY in an Oct. 14 statement that it will continue to use customs revenue to fund WIC “for the foreseeable future.”
Earlier this year, the National WIC Association criticized House Republicans and the White House for proposing deep cuts to the program, saying in May that President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget request threatens the health and nutrition of millions of low-income families.
“I am extremely disappointed in the President’s proposed cuts to WIC’s nutrition assistance budget,” Machel said in a May 30 statement. “By cutting WIC’s cash value benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables by two-thirds and reducing overall program funding, this proposal would take healthy food directly out of the hands of low-income mothers and young children who face nutritional risks.”
