WAs food aid program for infants and mothers now funded through October

Washington's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program secured funding to continue food benefits for mothers and babies through the end of October amid the federal government shutdown. The state’s Department of Health announced that this funding will come from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, although the total amount is not yet disclosed. Despite this new funding, local clinics have faced temporary closures, with some staff layoffs occurring as a direct result of the shutdown.

Nicole Flateboe, executive director of Nutrition First, criticized Washington for not guaranteeing reimbursements to clinics, stating, “This is incredibly embarrassing. ” Over 200 clinics serve more than 212,000 women and children under 5 years old annually in Washington, providing vital food and nutrition services. The program's funding flows from the federal level to the state and then to the clinics, complicating financial stability during the shutdown. The U. S.

Department of Agriculture has pledged to make back payments once the shutdown ends, but the state has not committed to similar assurances. This situation highlights the challenges faced by WIC at the start of the fiscal year, where funding is particularly scarce.