Des Moines, IA — Federal funding for critical nutrition programs feeding thousands of Iowa’s youngest residents could soon run dry if the ongoing government shutdown continues, according to a new report by Food & Water Watch.
The report highlights how many families rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — a federal program that provides free food, infant formula, and health support for low-income mothers and children under five.
Thousands of Iowa Children at Risk
According to the Food & Water Watch report, nearly 50,000 Iowa children under age 5 depend on WIC. That figure represents about 27% of Iowa’s children in this age group. Nationwide, around 5.3 million children — or 29% of U.S. children under 5 — currently rely on the program.
“Trump and Congressional Republicans have driven America headfirst into a government shutdown. It is poor women and children who will feel the impacts first and worst,” said Mitch Jones, Managing Director of Policy and Litigation for Food & Water Watch.
“Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley need to put food back on the table for struggling families by passing a bipartisan spending bill that protects food access.”
The report, shared by Iowa Capital Dispatch, warns that Iowa could face service disruptions if Congress fails to act quickly.
Funding Uncertainty and Federal Inaction
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that as of May, 63,000 Iowans were enrolled in WIC. The Iowa Hunger Coalition cautioned that WIC faces a higher risk of interruption than most other federal nutrition programs.
“WIC has the highest risk of reducing or halting services more than any other federal nutrition program,” the coalition stated in a recent post.
Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have supported the GOP-led Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, but opposed Democratic measures that also sought to end the shutdown. Both efforts failed to pass in the Senate this week.
Short-Term Fixes Won’t Last
States can use temporary local funding to sustain WIC, but Iowa officials have not confirmed whether they plan to do so. As of September 30, National WIC Association President Georgia Machell warned that the program only had enough funds for “one to two weeks.”
“Because the shutdown began at the start of a new fiscal year, the program could rapidly go through its remaining funding,” Machell said.
In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Trump administration plans to redirect tariff revenue to provide emergency WIC funding. However, she did not specify how much would be allocated or how long it would sustain the program.
Calls for Long-Term Stability
The National WIC Association welcomed the stopgap aid but emphasized that temporary measures are not enough. In an October 7 statement, Machell called on lawmakers to restore permanent funding.
“There is no substitute for Congress doing its job,” she said. “WIC needs full-year funding, not just temporary lifelines. It’s imperative that leaders in Washington act immediately to ensure that millions of families can continue to access the critical nutrition, care, and support they count on every day.”
What’s at Stake
Experts say that if the shutdown continues, families could lose access to vital WIC resources, including:
- Infant formula and baby food
- Nutritional counseling and healthcare referrals
- Monthly food vouchers for milk, cereal, fruits, and vegetables
- Breastfeeding and postpartum support
Without swift congressional action, the ripple effect could impact childhood nutrition, health outcomes, and family stability across Iowa and beyond.
What are your thoughts on how the shutdown is affecting vulnerable families? Share your opinions in the comments below.
