Arkansas WIC may only be operational until mid-November due to government shutdown, health official says

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — An official with the Arkansas Department of Health says the nutrition assistance program for low-income women and children may only be operational until mid-November if the government shutdown continues.

Health Department Chief of Staff Don Adams gave remarks during the State Board of Health’s quarterly meeting on Oct. 23, where he said that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is running on “carry-forward dollars” from the previous fiscal year.

Adams said the health department spends around $5 million per month on WIC.

“There is some discussion from USDA [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] that we may receive some additional dollars that would allow us to operate beyond that. So, right now, that program is fully functioning uninterrupted, but we do have a finite number of funds there,” Adams said.

Earlier this month, WIC received a lifeline as the White House said it would infuse the program with $300 million from President Donald Trump’s tariff revenues to maintain benefits through the month.

Adams’ comments came after the Arkansas Department of Human Services warned residents that they should be prepared for “possible delay or disruption” to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments due to the government shutdown.

DHS said that as of Sept. 1, more than 222,000 Arkansans across more than 118,000 households receive SNAP benefits.

In regards to ADH being impacted by the shutdown, Adams said 17 employees, one fully and 16 partially, have been furloughed since Oct. 1. Those furloughed work in the certification and survey program that receives funding from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

As a result of the furloughs, the department can respond to questions and complaints, but is “not doing routine inspections” of Medicare and Medicaid certifications.

If the government shutdown continues past Nov. 1, more than 40 million Americans are at risk of losing food assistance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.