FRAC Chat

Published July 10, 2025

On Monday, June 23, the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. This bill includes insufficient funding for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and reduces the highly popular WIC cash value benefit (CVB) used for purchasing fruit and vegetables by 10 percent. 

While the House bill does not cut the CVB to the level that the White House proposed, Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) made clear in his remarks at the markup that the House-proposed reduction was the first step to return the CVB to pre-pandemic levels. Such cuts would harm the nutrition and health of WIC participants, especially at a time when food costs continue to soar.  An amendment from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to reinstate the CVB to levels consistent with recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences was not approved by the committee. 

WIC Cash Value Benefit 

Through four key areas of service, WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals for nutritionally at-risk infants, children up to 5 years old, and pregnant and postpartum individuals from households with low incomes. The CVB allows WIC participants to purchase fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables. The CVB is different from other components of the WIC food packages as it has a specific cash value, allowing participants to choose the fruits and vegetables that meet their family’s needs and preferences. Over time, the CVB has been increased to better meet the nutritional needs of WIC families, rising food costs, and science-based recommendations.  

CVB Timeline 

*The White House proposal takes the pre-pandemic amounts and increases them due to inflation. 

Overall Funding 

For nearly 30 years, there has been strong bipartisan support to fully fund the WIC program to meet projected caseloads. Unlike the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which has mandatory funding that adjusts to meet demand, WIC is a discretionary program that requires annual appropriations each year. Historically, Congress has committed to funding WIC at the level needed to serve everyone eligible who applies for the program so there will not be waiting lists, based on estimates from the Office of Management and Budget on the cost to serve everyone who is certified eligible to receive WIC.  

While the House bill provides the same level of funding for WIC in fiscal year 2026 as it did in fiscal year 2025, it is unlikely that the amount will be enough to cover the number of eligible people who apply for the program. WIC continues to see participation rates increase, making it likely more people will apply for the program in the future.  

Infant Formula Amendment Could Impact Program Costs, Savings 

One amendment that was approved by the committee would require a study of the formula procurement process for WIC. WIC currently uses a competitive bidding process that provides significant savings for the program in return for formula manufacturers’ exclusive rights to provide their formula to WIC participants in that state. Program savings come from discounts in the form of rebates from manufacturers, which can save from $1 billion to $2 billion per year. In fiscal year 2023, the rebates saved states about $1.6 billion. These savings offset other WIC food costs, allowing the program to serve more eligible participants.  

The 2022 formula shortage brought concerns about this process to light. While processes can be analyzed, it is important to remember the critical savings that come from the current process and the need to keep that intact, especially as WIC faces other cuts and rising costs. 

Protect WIC  

WIC is a critical program that supports the health and well-being of pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants, and young children.  We must ensure these nutrition benefits stay strong and that the program has the funding needed to serve all eligible individuals who apply.  

Any delays in receiving WIC benefits – or cuts to them – would be harmful to the women and children who participate in the program. 

Congress must continue its longstanding bipartisan commitment to fully fund WIC at a level meant to guarantee that the program meets the needs of eligible participants. Congress must also maintain the cash value benefit at the recommended level — to ensure a strong future for WIC and our nation’s babies and young children.