White House says it will use tariff revenue to fund federal food aid for mothers and young children
CNNOCT 9
Trump Admin to Fund WIC With Tariff Revenue During Shutdown
Above: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press conference on Oct. 3, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's creative use of tariff revenue to fund WIC during the shutdown demonstrates strong leadership while Democrats play political games with vulnerable families. Budget experts calling this a presidential power grab miss the point — hundreds of billions in tariff revenue are already flowing in, and using these funds to feed hungry mothers and babies is exactly what Americans expect from decisive leadership.
Democratic narrative
This tariff funding scheme is a reckless abuse of executive power that sidesteps Congress and undermines the Constitution’s spending authority. Instead of reopening the government and providing stable funding, Trump is exploiting tariff revenue as a political stunt that offers no clarity on how much money is available, how long it will last, or how quickly states will receive it. Millions of mothers and children need certainty, not another chaotic power grab dressed up as leadership.
Narrative C
Trump’s move to use tariff revenue for WIC underscores both the promise and peril of his trade agenda. Tariffs have delivered hundreds of billions without derailing growth, giving Washington rare fiscal breathing room as debt soars. But that money isn’t free cash — it’s already patching a widening deficit. Treating it as a political slush fund risks wasting a hard-won revenue stream and deepening the long-term fiscal crisis it was meant to ease.