WIC and SNAP benefits at risk if shutdown continues
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Government food assistance programs may be at risk if Congress is unable to reach a funding agreement to stop the shutdown in the coming weeks.
Why it matters: Millions of mothers, infants and low-income families who rely on WIC and SNAP — programs commonly known as food stamps — could lose that support in a long-term shutdown.
Zoom in: About 8.1% of Iowa's population — around 264,000 people — participate in SNAP, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Census Bureau.
State of play: WIC could run out of funds within weeks, and SNAP enrollees are also vulnerable.
- Existing federal funds may keep WIC running for one to two weeks, but after that, millions of pregnant women, new mothers and young children could lose access to healthy foods.
What they're saying: Food Bank of Iowa, which receives USDA commodity foods, is already working to meet rising and record need for food assistance and a prolonged shutdown would drive demand higher, spokesperson Annette Hacker told Axios yesterday.
- The group awaits details about how tariff revenue might help keep WIC funded during a government shutdown, she said.