Possible shortfalls for federal food assistance have stakeholders on edge

Some nutrition programs are at risk of funding shortfalls as politicians spar over federal spending. Supplemental nutrition programs help millions of people every year who otherwise could not afford food. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants Congress to approve extra money for the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, or WIC. 

In September, 225,800 people in Georgia received benefits, up by almost 49,000 compared to the same time last year. 

But while WIC participation is growing, some say that’s come without enough funding. Current funding for WIC nationally is set to expire in January. 

The program faces a $1 billion shortfall, the USDA warns. Inaction from Congress means thousands of people could be turned away for benefits next year, said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small during a recent press call. 

“If Congress doesn't fully fund the program, every month of uncertainty puts states in a position of harder and harder choices,” Torres Small said. “Many states will likely have to impose waiting lists for applicants to reduce costs.”

According to WIC policy, under waitlist procedures, infants, breastfeeding and pregnant people would be priority one, followed by children with nutrition-related medical conditions and other groups. 

“There is no replacement for federal dollars,” said Georgia Mitchell, CEO of the National WIC Association. 

The state of Georgia already has a backlog of people waiting for SNAP benefits, formerly food stamps, another nutrition assistance program that feeds thousands every month. 

In November, representatives of the Georgia Department of Human Services said they’re working to get through applications for over 20,000 people. But the department says it’s understaffed and overwhelmed with new applications. 

“We hired a full-time SNAP outreach coordinator in this past year specifically for that reason,” said Frank Sheppard, CEO of Feeding the Valley Food Bank in Columbus. 

Issues with nutrition programs in Georgia have left food banks struggling to keep up. Sheppard said his team has several people coming in with “concerns about federal programs which may be in jeopardy,” and who don’t receive their benefits in time to feed their families for the month. 

“We continue to advocate in Washington and in our state capitol for the need for additional increases in these programs, not cuts,” Sheppard said. “The demand is just there and is so high.”

Demand has been about 30% higher since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheppard said. Feeding the Valley serves 17 counties in western Georgia, including people in Albany. The region has some of the highest levels of food insecurity in the state. 

Meanwhile, funding for SNAP remains in flux as members of Congress debate the farm bill, which also includes funding for things like conservation, disaster assistance for farmers and support for agricultural commodities. 

SNAP recently came under fire during talks over the massive legislation, when Georgia Republican Austin Scott called it too expensive and divisive. Scott warned that the increasing cost of supporting SNAP creates “significant constraints” for everything else that’s in the farm bill. 

Scott is calling for nutrition programs to be split from the farm bill. It’s not the first time a Republican has suggested doing so, as the portion of total farm bill spending for SNAP has grown gradually over the years to about 80% in the most recent iteration of the bill.