"Its beneficiaries are expected to feel the impact within one to two weeks. The program in question is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known by its acronym WIC, which has a yearly budget of $8 billion. It provides vouchers for infant formula, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, skim milk, and other healthy staples"
"If a funding agreement is not reached soon, states will have to either use their own funds to keep WIC a program with a 50-year history running or allow it to shut down. If they choose the first option, states could seek reimbursement once the federal budget is approved, but not all are able to front the money. We feel good about one to two weeks, said Ali Hard, policy director at the National WIC Association. After that, we are very worried."
WIC serves nearly seven million pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children and supports access to infant formula, fresh produce, skim milk and other healthy staples. The program has an annual budget of $8 billion and is funded annually by Congress. The federal shutdown began at the start of the fiscal year and has put WIC funding on hold, with beneficiaries expected to feel effects within one to two weeks. States must either front funds to continue benefits or allow interruptions; some states have pledged coverage while others have paused enrollment or lack resources to maintain the program.
Read at english.elpais.com
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