What's happened
Amid a government shutdown, the Trump administration claims to use tariff funds to sustain the WIC program, which supports low-income women and children. This move raises legal questions about executive authority and congressional funding, with experts warning it may undermine constitutional checks and balances.
What's behind the headline?
The White House's decision to divert tariff revenue to fund WIC highlights a significant shift in executive power. This move effectively sidesteps Congress, raising questions about the constitutional limits of presidential authority. Experts like Daniel Bunn warn that if the Supreme Court does not curb the president's tariff powers, it could set a precedent where the executive branch operates with minimal legislative oversight. The reliance on tariff funds, which are legally frozen until appropriations are passed, underscores the fragile balance of power. This situation exposes the potential for future executive actions to undermine congressional authority, especially if courts fail to intervene. The timing—just before a Supreme Court case—suggests strategic use of executive discretion to influence policy outcomes, possibly at the expense of constitutional norms. For families dependent on WIC, this temporary fix underscores the urgent need for Congress to enact stable, long-term funding solutions rather than relying on administrative improvisation that risks legal challenges and policy instability.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the White House claims to use tariff revenue to fund WIC, raising legal questions about executive overreach. Axios first revealed the plan, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing the administration's intent to prevent hunger among low-income families. The NY Post echoes this sentiment, criticizing congressional shutdowns for threatening vulnerable populations and praising the White House's 'creative' resource reallocation. Meanwhile, Business Insider UK highlights the broader context of the government shutdown, noting that many federal programs face funding shortfalls, and that the reliance on tariffs—collected in a general fund—complicates legal and fiscal accountability. Experts warn that this approach could weaken the constitutional separation of powers, especially as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case challenging the president's tariff authority, which has been invoked repeatedly by former President Trump. The debate underscores ongoing tensions between executive actions and legislative authority, with implications for future governance and fiscal policy.
How we got here
The WIC program, supporting low-income families with food vouchers, relies on federal funding approved annually by Congress. A recent shutdown due to congressional deadlock has threatened its funding, prompting the White House to reallocate tariff revenue—collected from import taxes—to keep the program operational temporarily. This approach bypasses traditional legislative funding processes, raising constitutional concerns about executive overreach and the separation of powers, especially as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case on the legality of tariffs imposed unilaterally by the president.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Karoline Claire Leavitt ( LEV-it; born August 24, 1997) is an American political spokesperson who has served since 2025 as the 36th White House press secretary under the second Trump administration. A member of the Republican Party, she was the party...