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By Hollie Silverman
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The White House under President Donald Trump proposed reducing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) monthly fruit and vegetable benefits by as much as 75 percent in its fiscal year 2027 budget request.
Current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy set fiscal year 2026 WIC fruit and vegetable benefit levels at $26 per month for children, $48 for pregnant and postpartum participants, and $52 for fully or mostly breastfeeding participants, according to a December 10, 2025, policy memorandum from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Cutting the cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables could reduce access to produce for families who rely on WIC.
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Why It Matters
WIC serves low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children, and research has linked the program to improved dietary intake and child health outcomes, according to nutrition experts cited by EatingWell.
Congress rejected similar proposed reductions for fiscal year 2026 and included a contingency funding boost for WIC operations, according to EatingWell.
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What Is WIC Program?
WIC is a federal nutrition program administered by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) that provides specified healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to health and social services for eligible women, infants and children under 5, USDA said in program materials accompanying its fiscal year 2026 benefit guidance.
USDA finalized revisions to WIC food packages that require state agencies to authorize at least one additional form of fruits and vegetables beyond fresh—such as frozen, canned or dried—by April 2026, and reported that as of November 2025, 95 percent of state agencies had authorized fresh and at least one additional form, FNS said.
States have continued rolling out food-package updates. For example, California WIC announced on Monday changes that add more whole-grain options, expand plant-based milks, allow cash-value fruit and vegetable benefits in place of some jarred baby foods, and broaden package sizes to improve flexibility.
Which Benefits Could Be Cut From the WIC Program?
The White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget request sought to reduce WIC’s monthly fruit and vegetable cash-value benefit to $13 for breastfeeding participants and $10 for children, down from current fiscal year 2026 levels of $52 and $26, respectively, if Congress enacts the proposal, EatingWell reported.
USDA’s fiscal year 2026 policy memo documented current monthly fruit and vegetable amounts as $48 for pregnant and postpartum participants and $52 for fully or mostly breastfeeding participants, with $26 for children, following an 11.8 percent inflation adjustment over the fiscal year 2022 baseline, USDA said.
EatingWell also reported that the administration’s request included a recommended $500 million increase to WIC’s contingency fund, citing a statement from the National WIC Association, while proposing the fruit and vegetable reductions.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in a statement on Tuesday: "President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget calls for sharply reducing the fruit and vegetable component of WIC’s food benefits for new and expecting parents and young children."
"We estimate the proposed cut would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from about 5.4 million parents and young children," the statement read. "As a result, the proposed WIC funding level would be insufficient to provide all anticipated participants with full benefits."
Does Walmart Take WIC Benefits?
Walmart accepts WIC at most locations, but not every Walmart is WIC‑authorized. Approval depends on each state’s WIC program. Only Washington and Massachusetts currently allow WIC to be used for Walmart online pickup/delivery orders.
What Happens Next
Congress will review, modify and vote on the fiscal year 2027 spending bills before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1 and Trump will then sign or veto any final package that reaches his desk.
Until any change becomes law, current fiscal year 2026 WIC fruit and vegetable benefit amounts remain in effect, USDA said.
State agencies continue implementing food-package updates to expand allowable forms and options, including those taking effect this month, according to USDA and state program announcements.
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