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The White House announced Tuesday (October 7) that it will redirect tariff revenue to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) amid the ongoing government shutdown. This decision comes as the program, which supports nearly seven million low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children, faces a funding shortage due to Congress's failure to pass a federal spending package for fiscal year 2026, which began on October 1.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared on the social platform X that President Trump identified this "creative solution" to keep WIC operational. The administration plans to use Section 232 tariff revenue, which is collected on national security grounds, to sustain the program for the foreseeable future. However, the legality of this move is questioned, as Congress has not appropriated these funds for WIC specifically.
The National WIC Association welcomed the effort but expressed concerns about the lack of details. Georgia Machell, the association’s CEO, stated, "Families need long-term stability, not short-term uncertainty." The association is unsure how much funding this measure will provide or how long it will sustain operations.
The Trump administration has increased tariffs on various products, arguing that it will boost U.S. manufacturing and national security. So far this year, tariff collections have totaled $190 billion. Despite the shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated up to $150 million in contingency funds to state WIC agencies experiencing shortfalls.
The decision to use tariff funds for WIC has sparked political debate. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats for the shutdown's impact on WIC, while Democrats argue against Republican efforts to limit the program's eligibility and funding. The shutdown continues as Congress remains deadlocked on the federal budget.