McHenry County health officials warn WIC benefits at risk if federal shutdown continues

McHenry County Department of Health officials said Oct. 20 that the state has committed to fund Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program operations through the end of the month, but further funding depends on a federal budget resolution and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The county’s WIC program is serving about 2,082 participants, officials said. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) told the county it can continue issuing benefits through the end of the month; beyond that, funding is uncertain while Congress and federal agencies work through a budget impasse tied to a partial federal shutdown.

Why this matters: WIC provides food benefits and nutrition support for pregnant people and children under 5. County officials told the board that an interruption in USDA funding could quickly halt benefit issuance locally and create immediate hardships for families who rely on formula and specialized foods.

At the meeting, the county’s public health representative said the National WIC Association has signaled bipartisan support for full WIC funding in Congress, but a formal budget and congressional action are required before that support can translate into resumption of federal benefit disbursements. IDPH said it has reserve funds and some vendor vouchers it could use to extend operations temporarily, but those are stopgap measures.

Board members pressed staff on contingency planning and community impacts. A board member asked whether the current trouble is tied to the federal shutdown; staff confirmed the disruption is directly connected to the shutdown. Staff said they will notify the board and the public if a local supply drive or other community response is needed but noted that if USDA funds are not available, the county cannot issue official WIC benefits on its own.

Officials said they will update the board as they receive more information from IDPH and federal partners. "We did have a meeting last week with the National WIC Association...there's definitely bipartisan support for fully funding the WIC program," a county health official said. The board was told the state’s reserves allowed continuation only through the end of the month.

The department declined to offer an estimate of how long any interruption might last, noting it depends on federal action; staff said the county would communicate opportunities to support families if nonfederal aid becomes necessary.

Ending note: County staff asked board members to remain ready to help with outreach if the program experiences a disruption and said they will return with updates as the situation evolves.