When the federal government shut down, WIC, the popular program that helps millions of low-income mothers and young children stay healthy, nearly went dark, too. The ongoing stalemate between Democrats and Republicans sidetracked the process to fund it for the fiscal year.
Last week, the Trump administration threw the program a lifeline: $300 million to keep the program going.
The short-term fix, however, obscures a larger problem. Because WIC hasn’t been funded in the federal budget, cash-strapped states must temporarily cover the cost. While the $300 million will help keep them afloat, state funding is patchy at best — some can only manage through the end of October — and there’s no guarantee some expectant moms or babies won’t go hungry.
Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, said the White House allocation is a “welcome” step in the right direction, but patchwork solutions will only go so far.
“Families need long-term stability, not short-term uncertainty,” Machell said. “We still don’t know how much funding this measure provides, how quickly states will receive it or how long it will sustain operations.”
Established in 1974, WIC is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5 buy nutritious food. The program, which also provides support for breastfeeding, nutrition education and healthcare, helps new moms, babies, and young children stave off malnutrition, which can cause lifelong cognitive and health issues.
Participants can use WIC to buy fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk, and infant formula. More than half of WIC recipients are children, and a little more than 21% of WIC recipients are Black.
This story originally appeared here.