On Thursday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the city will financially support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through November, in response to the ongoing government shutdown.

“SNAP and WIC are essential lifelines for thousands in Washington, D.C., and millions across the nation, ensuring they have food each month,” Bowser stated in a statement released on Thursday.

Bowser expressed hope that the situation wouldn’t escalate to this point, emphasizing the need for the federal government to resume operations promptly. However, she affirmed that the city is committed to supporting D.C. residents during November.

With SNAP benefits scheduled to expire on Saturday and WIC funded only for the first week of November, the mayor’s office reports that 85,000 households, equating to 141,000 individuals in the District, depend on SNAP monthly.

Additionally, WIC supports over 12,500 individuals across 8,300 households in Washington, D.C.

Bowser is planning to use $29 million to fund SNAP amid the shutdown and $1.5 million for WIC.

A total of $1 million allocated for WIC will cover direct benefits, while $500,000 will consist of grants to nonprofits “and personnel and non-personnel services necessary to run the program.” 

Bowser’s office says contingency funds will be replenished in her budget submitted to the D.C. Council for 2026.