Update: WIC Funding and the September Deadline

Congress needs to pass a temporary funding bill, called a Continuing Resolution (CR), by September 30. This bill keeps federal funding, including money for WIC, moving forward. Both the House and Senate passed their own versions of the bill before their summer break, but the two versions do not match yet.

The House of Representatives is expected to begin working to match the two versions this week, starting today, August 31, 2026. Lawmakers must agree on two main points:

• End date: The House version funds programs until December 4, 2026. The Senate version goes until December 11, 2026.
• Extra rules: The Senate and House bills had a few differences in the specific budget and rules that need to be worked out between the groups. 

The final vote on a CR will happen once the entire Congress is back to work on September 14, 2026. 

What this means for WIC: Both versions of the bill protect WIC funding. They ensure WIC can keep serving the same number of families, no matter which end date is chosen.

The risk of a government shutdown: A shutdown like last year's 43-day event is very unlikely this time. The Senate bill passed with strong support from both political parties (a 90-6 vote). Also, both sides of Congress passed their versions weeks early. While nothing is official until the final bill is signed, the process is in much better shape than last year. We will watch this closely and share updates as they happen.

What staff need to know: Congress should finish the temporary funding bill soon. This will keep WIC funded through December 2026. We will share the official end date once it is set. Right now, WIC services will not change, and you do not need to worry about a government shutdown.