White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has authorized a strategy to utilize tariff revenue to keep the WIC nutrition program running amid the ongoing government shutdown. She made it clear that the Trump administration will “not allow mothers and children to go hungry.” In a post on X, Leavitt accused Democrats of “cruelly voting to shut down the government,” asserting that their actions forced the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, to run out of funds this week.
Trump has directed officials to use Section 232 tariff revenue to sustain WIC, a plan that the White House confirmed is a short-term “creative solution” developed by the Office of Management and Budget. “The Trump White House will not allow impoverished mothers and their babies to go hungry because of the Democrats’ political games,” Leavitt stated. The exact amount of tariff funds to be utilized remains undisclosed, but the injection is expected to cover costs “for the foreseeable future.” WIC provides vital services like vouchers for healthy food, breastfeeding assistance, and nutrition education to approximately six million low-income women and children across the United States.
The federal government allocated more than $7 billion to the program during the fiscal year 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As debates about funding and eligibility for WIC continue, the divide between Democrats and Republicans is apparent. Democrats have criticized Republicans in past budget disputes over issues related to WIC, while Republicans blame the Democrats’ resistance to spending restraints for contributing to the current shutdown. This cyclical argument underscores a broader clash between the two parties—each side fiercely defending its stance while the most vulnerable populations hang in the balance.
The White House has not clarified how long these tariff funds will last or whether additional support will be needed if Congress remains deadlocked. An official referred to the transfer as a temporary measure designed to protect vulnerable families while budget negotiations continue. As the government shutdown lingers on, families relying on the WIC program remain apprehensive about their future. The administration has stepped in, but uncertainty persists over what will happen next.
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