As if navigating a global pandemic wasn’t enough, America now has to contend with another growing concern—hunger. And guess who’s standing in the way of the food aid that millions of families rely on? Yep, it’s the GOP, threatening to shut down the government if they can’t slash spending, even if it means taking food out of the mouths of kids and new moms.
Food For Thought, Or Lack Thereof
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, is on the GOP’s chopping block. If you’re unfamiliar with WIC, it’s the program that provides life-saving nutrition aid to pregnant and postpartum adults, as well as children up to five years old. And we’re not talking about a few people who might feel this cut—up to 750,000 eligible folks could be turned away if Republicans have their way. That’s not even mentioning the 4.6 million who could see their benefits significantly reduced.
A Game of Budgetary Chicken with Lives on the Line
Let’s talk numbers. To provide full benefits to WIC recipients, the program needs around $7.3 billion in funding for 2024. But GOP lawmakers, who somehow managed to impose strict work requirements on SNAP recipients in a debt ceiling deal, now want to allocate just $5.5 billion to WIC. It’s a race against the clock, as the Biden administration is urging Congress to include an additional $1.4 billion for WIC in a short-term government funding measure.
Whose Side Are They On, Anyway?
It’s easy to see who the GOP is not for—average Americans who are struggling. They’d rather cut programs that help people than reconsider their agenda. Imagine reducing monthly fruit and vegetable benefits by 70% for pregnant women and 56% for children. That’s the real-world impact of their proposed cuts, which could also force 1.9 million participants onto a waitlist for aid. Talk about setting priorities.
The Far-Right Folly
But it doesn’t stop there. The House Freedom Caucus, the far-right faction of the GOP, is demanding even more steep cuts to federal spending as part of any short-term funding agreement. You know, because taking food away from children isn’t extreme enough for them. They want to gut education and environmental protection programs too, all while complaining about the “unprecedented weaponization” of the Justice Department—seemingly a thinly veiled reference to accountability for former President Donald Trump.
A Glimmer of Hope?
With the GOP poised to bring the government to the brink of a shutdown, it’s a relief to know there are at least some adults in the room. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has said that House Democrats are ready to move forward on funding for disaster relief and other crises. We can only hope that enough members of Congress recognize that it’s a terrible idea to play politics with something as fundamental as food.
Final Take
Look, it’s clear that we’ve got a serious problem when lawmakers are willing to jeopardize the well-being of millions to score political points. It’s not just a lack of empathy—it’s a dereliction of duty. We need representatives who will fight for us, not against us. So if you’re as fired up about this as we are, make sure to let your elected officials know that Americans shouldn’t go hungry just because someone wants to win at politics.
