As grocery prices continue to rise nationally, the House on Thursday passed an appropriations bill that would cut funding for a program that helps pregnant women and children purchase healthy foods.
The vote was 213-210. Four House Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the measure, while five Republicans voted against it. The bill, which the Senate has yet to consider, aims to cut about 1.5 percent from overall federal agriculture spending in fiscal 2027, according to Republicans.
Millions of WIC recipients would have less money for fruits and vegetables under the legislation, which funds the Agriculture Department and other agencies.
What Is WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — known as WIC — provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
The program has long enjoyed bipartisan support. It is widely credited with reducing infant mortality, improving birth outcomes, and ensuring that young children have access to nutritious food during critical developmental windows.
But Thursday’s vote signals a shift. With food prices still elevated and families struggling to afford basic groceries, the House voted to reduce the very program designed to help the most vulnerable.
The Timing
The vote comes as Americans continue to feel the pinch at the grocery store. Inflation has cooled from its peaks, but prices remain high. The war in Iran has pushed up energy costs, which in turn affect food production and transportation. Families are making difficult choices at the supermarket.
Against that backdrop, the House voted to cut WIC. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.
The Politics
The narrow vote margin — just three votes — reflects the sensitivity of the issue. Four Democrats crossed the aisle to support the bill. Five Republicans voted against it. The defections on both sides suggest that cutting food aid for pregnant women and children is not a comfortable vote for anyone.
Republicans who supported the bill argue that the overall cut to agriculture spending is modest — just 1.5 percent. They say the government must reduce spending somewhere, and that the bill prioritizes other programs over WIC.
Democrats who opposed the bill argue that cutting food aid while grocery prices are rising is cruel and counterproductive. They point out that WIC is not a program plagued by waste or fraud. It is a program that works.
What Happens Next
The Senate must now consider the bill. It is unclear whether the upper chamber will pass it as is, amend it, or let it die. Given the narrow margins in both chambers, the fate of WIC funding hangs in the balance.
For the millions of women and children who rely on the program, the uncertainty is unwelcome. They do not have the luxury of waiting to see how the political process plays out. They need to eat now.
The Bottom Line
The House passed an appropriations bill that would cut funding for WIC, the program that helps pregnant women and children purchase healthy foods. The vote was 213-210, with four Democrats joining Republicans and five Republicans voting no. The bill now moves to the Senate. As grocery prices remain high, the cuts would reduce the amount of money WIC recipients have for fruits and vegetables.
