The U.S. Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding the government beginning on October 1, 2025.

WIC is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and it is affected by the shutdown.  The local health agency is advising WIC users to stock up on food and other items to prepare for this lack of federal funding.

WIC is available for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding moms, and children under five (up to their fifth birthday). Dads, grandparents, foster parents, and anyone raising kids under five can apply for support for the kids in their care.

The local WIC Clinic is part of the SEK Multi-County Health Department,  and is located at 6th and Lowman Streets in Fort Scott.

From a press release from the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department:

WIC may operate short-term in Kansas by using limited prior-year federal funding.

There is a risk that WIC benefits will be paused, reduced, or ceased.

WIC Food benefits are estimated to last until the end of October, but that can’t be assured.

Users are encouraged to buy shelf-ready healthy food and/or items the family uses at this time, balancing food safety and storage areas available.

Local food banks, pantries, and non-profit groups may be of assistance if WIC benefits are temporarily disrupted.

WIC users are encouraged to continue using their benefits and attending appointments, but call 24 hours before, to verify the office is open, 620.223.4464.

If the WIC clinic closes due to lack of funding, contact the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment at 785-296-2683 for assistance.

The press release asks that users consider letting their elected U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt, and Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran know how important WIC is to their family and urge them to restore funding.

To reach elected representatives:

President Donald Trump has no phone number to leave comments on; however, the address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.

Schmidt can be reached at 202.225.6601 or 1223 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20515.

Marshal: 202.224.4774 or PO Box 1588, Great Bend, KS 67530

Moran: 620.232.2286 or PO Box 1372, Pittsburg, KS 66762