Nutrition programs expanded for women and children during pandemic due to easier access; but changes are temporary

Money for fruits and vegetables is part of the
WIC program. (Photo by Rusty Watson, Unsplash)

Pandemic changes allowed more mothers to access the nutritional benefits of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The program's growth was spurred by decreasing participant requirements and in-person interviews. While those changes helped WIC become more popular with mothers, the program faces funding and waiver crunches that may limit access again. "WIC is not an entitlement program — it can only support additional participants if Congress allocates funding for them," reports Caitlin Dewey of Stateline. Temporary federal waivers "made it easier to participate during the pandemic, and Congress would need to change the law to extend them."

Despite the program's history of positive health outcomes and bipartisan support, "House Republicans have signaled a desire to hold WIC funding steady, with no increase to cover new participants. A series of continuing resolutions passed to buy Congress time as it works out a comprehensive budget deal also have maintained prior funding levels," Dewey explains. Without additional funding, some states may face waitlists, which, depending on the wait time, may not be helpful for pregnant women.

Dr. Aditi Vasan is a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has researched participation in WIC. Vasan told Dewey, "It's a really important source of nutrition support for low-income pregnant women, children and families, because it provides both nutrition education and the funds to purchase nutritious food." Dewey reports, "[Before the pandemic] participants frequently reported problems scheduling appointments, taking time off work and accessing transportation to WIC offices." To contain Covid-19, WIC offices were allowed to conduct interviews and screenings remotely, which removed a major obstacle for program applicants. Many of WIC's pandemic adaptations were authorized under temporary federal waivers," Dewey writes. "By September 2026, when waivers end, Congress will need to change the statute underlying WIC to make those changes permanent, said Ali Hard of the National WIC Association."