New York pregnant women, mothers and young children enrolled in a federal program that provides food, infant formula and other benefits can continue to receive that assistance for now, but that funding could soon be depleted amid a lengthy government shutdown, experts warn.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, often referred to as WIC, currently "remains open and ready to serve families" in New York, according to the state Department of Health, which manages the program in New York.

"As the federal landscape continues to change rapidly, we are closely monitoring any developments and will keep New Yorkers informed of any changes that would affect their benefits," the department said in a Monday email to Newsday.

But the National WIC Association, a

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