"For many women, this is not optional. They're having to choose now between paying their electric bill or feeding their baby."

Nearly 7 million people – many infants and young children – in the U.S. receive WIC benefits, according to the National WIC Association (NWA).

"People really are in desperate need right now," said a mother from Mesa, as the ongoing federal government shutdown threatens to impact WIC benefit payments.

Despite the impending cutoff of SNAP benefits, the WIC program remains funded for a while in Georgia, at least for a couple of weeks.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said Thursday the city will fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the separate program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for the month of November amid the government shutdown.

As the government shutdown stretches into another week, many Montana families are beginning to feel the strain, especially those relying on federal nutrition programs.

Explore the challenges facing Washington state as cuts to SNAP funding impact food banks and vulnerable families amid rising food costs and demand.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she authorized the use of local funds to make sure that residents enrolled in the SNAP and WIC programs will receive their benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have introduced a bill that would fund SNAP and WIC amid the ongoing federal government shutdown by forcing the USDA to release “contingency funds.” U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and U.S. Sen.