WASHINGTON, DC—Just days after issuing a directive to freeze most federal grants and loans, the White House reversed course amid widespread backlash. The order, which caused chaos and uncertainty across multiple industries and projects—including federal nutrition programs like WIC—was temporarily blocked by a federal district judge on Tuesday evening before ultimately being rescinded by the Trump Administration.
The National WIC Association (NWA) welcomes the Administration’s decision to reverse its harmful funding freeze for federal assistance programs. While we are relieved by this outcome, the uncertainty and confusion caused by this directive could have been avoided altogether. Families deserve stability, not last-minute reversals that leave them questioning whether they will have access to the nutrition and breastfeeding support they rely on.
Every day, WIC provides essential services to nearly 7 million mothers, pregnant women, and young children, ensuring access to nutritious food, breastfeeding support, infant formula, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals. Nearly half of all infants born in the US benefit from WIC, resulting in improved early childhood health and development outcomes. Any federal action that threatens this lifeline must be prevented at all costs.
For more than 50 years, WIC has been a pillar of support for families, strengthening communities and improving long-term health outcomes. Beyond its impact on individual families, WIC also benefits farmers, grocery retailers, and local economies. Every dollar invested in WIC leads to lasting economic and public health benefits, reducing healthcare costs and ensuring a stronger future for children nationwide.
We are grateful for the outpouring of support that WIC received during this time, and the message from the community should be heard loud and clear: The well-being of babies and young children must not be put at risk. We urge federal leaders to ensure WIC’s funding remains secure and uninterrupted.
NWA remains committed to advocating for the millions of families who depend on WIC and will continue working to ensure WIC’s essential services remain protected from future disruptions.
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Press Contact
Name: Whitney Carlson
Email: [email protected]
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The National WIC Association (NWA) is the nonprofit membership organization for state and local providers of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). NWA is the go-to voice for WIC staff at more than 12,000 WIC locations across the country who work to support more than 6.8 million mothers and young children. For 40 years, NWA has worked to build broad, bipartisan consensus for WIC’s programmatic goals and public health mission. NWA provides member-driven advocacy; education, guidance, and support to WIC staff; and drives innovation to strengthen WIC as we work toward a nation of healthier women, children, and their families. Learn more at www.nwica.org.