When the federal government shut down, WIC, the popular program that helps millions of low-income mothers and young children stay healthy, nearly went dark, too. The ongoing stalemate between Democrats and Republicans sidetracked the process to fund it for the fiscal year.

Last week, the Trump administration threw the program a lifeline: $300 million to keep the program going.

The short-term fix, however, obscures a larger problem. Because WIC hasn’t been funded in the federal budget, cash-strapped states must temporarily cover the cost. While the $300 million will help keep them afloat, state funding is patchy at best — some can only manage through the end of October — and there’s no guarantee some expectant moms or babies won’t go hungry.

Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the Nati

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