Newsroom

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a plan to ensure that low-income Americans have access to the nutrition they need. The plan provides full benefits for SNAP participants for the month of February.

FNCS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the accomplishments of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in 2018, from common-sense flexibilities for school meal providers to the agency’s vigorous response to provide food to the victims of coast-to-coast natural disasters.

FNS today announced a $2-million cooperative agreement with the Johns Hopkins University to conduct an in-depth, practicable evaluation of local agencies’ strategies to improve services provided by the WIC program.

The state of North Carolina will be able to better serve participants through WIC in the wake of Hurricane Florence, thanks to operational flexibilities approved for their use by USDA) The state will be able to issue benefits remotely and waive some nutrition education requirements in places where offices are closed, as well as replace September food benefits that were damaged or lost during the hurricane.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today proclaimed Aug. 1-7 as National WIC Breastfeeding Week. Each year, National WIC Breastfeeding Week is held in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week during the first week of August to promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby’s first year of life. 

As part of Agriculture Secretary Perdue’s strategic goal of ensuring that our programs are delivered efficiently, effectively and with integrity, FNS announced an enhanced focus on program integrity today, that will include renewed attention on transparency, payment accuracy, fraud and waste prevention, and improved quality control.

FNS today announced $1.1 million in grants to four Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children state agencies in Arizona, Arkansas, South Dakota and Texas. 

Families participating in USDA’s WIC program  in hurricane-stricken Texas will have an easier time finding WIC-approved foods for mothers and their children thanks to food-package flexibilities approved Sunday by USDA.

Breastfeeding rates increased sharply over the past 20 years among women participating in WIC, based on the findings of a new USDA study.

FNS today awards nearly $2 million in funding to six states and territories to help improve retention of children in WIC. These funds will enable WIC state agencies to better fulfill their  crucial role in ensuring young children up to age five have a foundation for nutritional success.

Today, Secretary Tom Vilsack urged all state health officers to use the resources and opportunities provided through their WIC agencies in their substance misuse prevention efforts. Vilsack made this announcement at a town hall in Missouri to discuss the opioid epidemic, which accounted for more than 28,000 deaths nationwide in 2014.

Undersecretary Kevin Concannon today announced that approximately $2 million in grants is available to help state agencies retain young children in the WIC program.

Secretary Vilsack announced a major step to make it easier for WIC participants to access nutritious foods. The WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer Final Rule will improve the shopping experience for WIC participants by requiring states to transition from paper benefits to EBT systems by Oct. 1, 2020.

As part of USDA's ongoing efforts to support residents in Flint, Mich., Dr. Kathryn Wilson, FNCS Deputy Under Secretary today announced that USDA will temporarily allow Michigan to use WIC funds to conduct lead testing for WIC participants. An estimated 3,800 WIC participants could potentially be tested as a result of this action.

USDA is committed to assisting residents affected by the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. While the water emergency in Flint remains primarily a public health crisis addressed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USDA is committed to using all resources available to assist in the response and to provide relief to those affected by the water contamination. To date, USDA has provided the following assistance:

Secretary Tom Vilsack is recognizing WIC state and local agencies  that excel in offering education and support for breastfeeding mothers. 

Secretary Tom Vilsack has declared Aug. 2 through 8, 2015, as "National Farmers Market Week." This year marks the 16th annual National Farmers Market Week in honor of the important role that farmers markets play in local economies. Throughout the week, USDA will celebrate thousands of our nation's farmers markets, the farmers and ranchers who make them possible and the communities that host them.

USDA is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the WIC program. WIC was established in 1974 to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of our nation’s children and is considered one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country.

USDA today announced that up to $200 million in competitive grants is available for state SNAP agencies to design and conduct employment and training pilot projects to help SNAP participants find jobs and increase their earnings.

Undersecretary Kevin Concannon today announced the release of nearly $34 million in fiscal year 2014 funds to WIC agencies in states, territories and Indian tribal organizations in support of technology improvements.