Published October 2, 2025
Learn more about how the shutdown will impact the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by reading FRAC’s blogs.
The Bottom Line: The child nutrition programs — including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) — are expected to continue operating during a short-term shutdown. The Summer EBT and Summer Nutrition Programs are not impacted by this shutdown as funding for these programs has already been disbursed.
While these programs are set to remain operational through October, the future impact depends largely on how long the shutdown lasts.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a contingency plan for use in the event of a lapse in funding. More detailed guidance will be imperative in the days to come. Learn more about how the shutdown will impact the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by reading FRAC’s blogs.
Funding for the Child Nutrition Programs During a Shutdown
- USDA has clarified that carryover funding and recoveries* (funds that were previously obligated or allocated to states but later returned to USDA because they weren’t used or were disallowed costs) are available to continue to reimburse schools as well as child and adult care providers for meals served in September and October.
- Additionally, the child nutrition programs are funded by the Section 32 transfer from Treasury, which is funding that can be made available in advance of annual appropriations.
It will be critical that USDA continues to share timely, detailed, and up-to-date information with state agencies on the availability of carryover funding and Section 32 funding to eliminate confusion and prevent any lapses in program operations. Additionally, schools and operators should reach out to their state agencies to confirm funds are available to support this guidance.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staffing Concerns
USDA’s guidance details that of 1,237 people currently on staff, all but 102 will be automatically furloughed, and that number will be further impacted by the number of staff that are exempt or not. A reduction in staff at USDA Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) will have negative impacts on the ability of the office to provide timely updates and support, which could have ramifications for access and participation.
Key Takeaways
In the short-term, the NSLP, SBP, and CACFP should continue without major disruption. However, the longer a shutdown continues, the greater the likelihood of delays and challenges. SNAP and WIC face different considerations for continued operations during the shutdown.
This means that for now:
- Schools should continue serving breakfast and lunch.
- Child care and afterschool programs participating in CACFP can keep providing meals and snacks.
If a shutdown lasts longer than October:
- Reimbursements could be delayed. State agencies and providers will need clear, additional guidance from USDA to support on-going program operations.
Schools and providers operating the programs should connect with their state agency for the most up-to-date information on the shutdown and impact on reimbursement.
Schools can also encourage families impacted by the shutdown that have lost income to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
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*A note on the availability of carryover funds: USDA’s guidance states that carryover funding may be used during the shutdown. It is important to note that carryover funding is a mechanism used on both the federal and state/local level. On the federal level, FNS can carry over unobligated congressional funding to the next fiscal year. Additionally, states and operators can carry over some limited unspent funds. For example, schools are allowed to retain up to three months of operating expenses; however, many schools may not have these funds available.