Why It Matters
Child nutrition programs have kept operating without a new reauthorization since some authorities expired on Sept. 30, 2015, according to a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.
Authorizations of appropriations lapsed for the Summer Food Service Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and states' administrative expenses. Those programs operate only when appropriations acts supply funding, which CRS says happened in each of fiscal 2016 through fiscal 2026.
The Big Picture
CRS defines reauthorization as Congress's process of changing the permanent statutes behind the child nutrition programs, WIC and related activities. Many programs, including the main functions of the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Special Milk Program, have no expiration date.
The most recent reauthorization was the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which became Public Law 111-296 on Dec. 13, 2010. It created the Community Eligibility Provision and required USDA to update school meal nutrition standards.
In the 117th Congress, the House Education and Labor Committee reported H.R. 8450, a bill to reauthorize child nutrition programs. Its latest action was Nov. 7, 2022, when it was placed on the Union Calendar, and CRS says the Congress ended without further action on it.
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 became Public Law 115-334 on Dec. 20, 2018. It extended funding for USDA purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables for child nutrition programs and required USDA to enforce "Buy American" rules for schools.
The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 became Public Law 119-4 on March 15, 2025. CRS cites it as the source of fiscal 2025 appropriations for WIC and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
Funding works in two tracks, according to CRS. Most child nutrition funding is appropriated mandatory spending set by formulas in the authorizing laws, while WIC funds are discretionary.
CRS reports fiscal 2025 expenditures of $18.9 billion for the National School Lunch Program, with 30.0 million participants daily on average. It lists WIC at $7.6 billion in fiscal 2025 appropriations and 6.9 million participants monthly on average.
The Bottom Line
The next dated step is USDA's final rule on WIC online ordering, transactions and food delivery, published Nov. 6 and effective Dec. 7. It removes barriers to online shopping and updates food-delivery and reporting requirements.
Programs with lapsed authorizations of appropriations continue to depend on each year's appropriations acts.
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