Food assistance programs like CalFresh and WIC remain open amid government shutdown — for now

Food assistance programs remain available in California during the government shutdown, but experts say the benefits could be hit if the shutdown lasts long-term.

In California, about 1 million women, children and babies are served through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC.

Sarah Diaz, policy and media coordinator at the California WIC Association, said she expects programs to continue for at least several more weeks.

“ In California, we're open, we're continuing to serve families, and that's really the message we're interested in getting out," she said. "Right now, we want people to know that WIC is open."

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On Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration said they would use revenue from tariffs to keep the program afloat, though details remained unclear.

WIC in California remained open during the past 35-day shutdown in winter 2018. But this year’s shutdown coincided with the start of the federal fiscal year, when funding for the next fiscal year was supposed to become available, Diaz said.

“ We definitely have been in touch with our members of Congress and letting them know that we need a speedy resolution if we're going to keep the doors open long term,” she said.

The National WIC Association had anticipated the program would have enough funding to remain open for the short term of up to two weeks. California is using leftover funding that hasn’t been spent yet, according to U.S. Rep. Judy Chu’s office.

The California Department of Public Health, which administers WIC, said it is “closely monitoring the federal budget situation” and will provide updates on its website.

The program provides assistance to buy infant formula and healthy foods, as well as education around nutrition and breastfeeding support for new mothers.

“ WIC is really, I think, the pillar of the public health nutrition system in this country. It's really the backbone,” said Shannon Whaley, director of research and evaluation at PHFE WIC, an agency in Southern California that serves about 190,000 women and children.

She said the agency’s 30 WIC sites in L.A., Orange and San Bernardino counties are continuing to serve and enroll eligible families during the shutdown. But she said she’s concerned about a long-term impasse. Research has shown that WIC improves health outcomes of pregnant mothers and their babies.

“ I really do worry about birth outcomes. And I really do worry about healthy babies and babies having access to the kind of food that they need to keep them healthy," she said. "I think that's a deep concern of mine."

Another food assistance program, CalFresh (known federally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) is funded through October. Officials say families will continue to get their October benefits, but a long-term shutdown could affect future benefits.