(This article comes courtesy of MissouriNet.)
A supplemental nutrition program for Missouri women, infants, and children will be available next month despite the federal government shutdown. Missouri’s Department of Heath and Senior Services manages the federally funded WIC program in the state.
“One of the ways the department provides oversight of the WIC program is by evaluating the types of foods and services delivered in the program. Prior to the shutdown, the department made changes to some of the items available as a cost-saving measure. Rising food prices and the increased fruit and vegetable cash value benefit have caused WIC’s food costs to outpace our federal appropriation increases,” said Sarah Willson, director of DHSS. “However, these cost-saving measures, implemented at the beginning of October, have been valuable in extending the benefits to WIC families longer.”
Health officials encourage WIC recipients in Missouri to attend appointments and redeem benefits using their WIC cards until further notice. The state will notify retailers and participants in the latter half of November if the shutdown continues and forces a pause in the benefit.
DHSS says the September 2025 participant rate for WIC in Missouri topped 98,000, although numbers vary month-to-month. Missouri’s WIC federal funding allocation is approximately $7.5 million per month.
The WIC program serves far fewer residents than the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More than 600,000 Missourians are enrolled in SNAP.
