Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 aims to ensure uninterrupted funding for critical nutrition assistance programs in the event of a lapse in appropriations for the Department of Agriculture in fiscal year 2026. The bill provides mandatory funding to continue the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) if regular appropriations are not enacted by the start of the fiscal year. This legislation seeks to protect vulnerable populations who rely on these nutrition programs from potential disruptions due to government funding gaps.

The bill appropriates funds from the Treasury to the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain SNAP and WIC benefits during any period in fiscal year 2026 when regular appropriations have not been enacted. The funding covers SNAP benefits, consolidated block grants under section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act, and the WIC program. The appropriations are effective from September 30, 2025 until either regular appropriations are enacted or September 30, 2026, whichever comes first. Importantly, the bill includes provisions for retroactive payment of any missed benefits from the start of the fiscal year until the date of enactment. It also requires the Secretary to reimburse state agencies for costs incurred in administering these programs during a funding lapse, provided they complied with federal law.

The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Secretary of Agriculture, is responsible for implementing this legislation. The bill draws funding directly from Treasury funds not otherwise appropriated, creating a mandatory spending mechanism that bypasses the regular appropriations process. While specific reporting requirements are not detailed in the bill text, the Secretary is tasked with reimbursing state agencies for their program administration costs during any funding lapse. This reimbursement is contingent upon state agencies carrying out the programs in accordance with federal law, which serves as a compliance measure to ensure proper program administration even in the absence of regular appropriations.

The primary beneficiaries of this legislation are SNAP and WIC recipients, who would continue to receive their nutrition benefits without interruption even if there is a lapse in regular appropriations. State agencies administering these programs also benefit from the assurance of federal reimbursement for their costs during a funding gap. The bill does not specify cost estimates, but it effectively creates an open-ended appropriation to cover all necessary SNAP and WIC expenses for up to one full fiscal year. This could potentially involve billions of dollars, depending on the duration of any funding lapse. The administrative burden on the Department of Agriculture and state agencies is likely to be minimal, as the bill essentially extends current operations rather than creating new programs. The expected outcome is the maintenance of critical nutrition support for millions of low-income individuals and families during periods of federal budget uncertainty.

This legislation builds upon the existing statutory framework for SNAP and WIC, which are established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, respectively. It creates a new statutory authority for mandatory funding of these programs in the absence of regular appropriations. The bill does not appear to preempt state or local laws, as it operates within the existing federal-state partnership for administering these nutrition programs. No specific provisions for judicial review are included in the bill text. The legislation relies on Congress's constitutional power of the purse and its authority to provide for the general welfare of the United States.

While the bill addresses a critical need to ensure continuity of nutrition assistance programs, it may face opposition on fiscal grounds. By creating mandatory spending that bypasses the regular appropriations process, it could be seen as reducing congressional oversight and control over federal expenditures. Implementation challenges may arise if there is a prolonged funding lapse, as the bill essentially requires the Department of Agriculture to operate these large-scale programs without a traditional appropriation. There may also be concerns about setting a precedent for other federal programs to seek similar contingency funding mechanisms. Additionally, the open-ended nature of the appropriation could lead to significant unplanned federal spending if a funding lapse extends for a substantial portion of the fiscal year.