Tariffs will feed 7 million mothers and babies during shutdown, White House says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the White House will use tariff revenue to avoid shutting off food benefits for about 7 million mothers, pregnant women and young children.

“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt said in a statement.

“Thankfully, President Trump and the White House have identified a creative solution to transfer resources from Section 232 tariff revenue to this critical program. The Trump White House will not allow impoverished mothers and their babies to go hungry because of the Democrats’ political games.”

The WIC program provides funds to low-income families to supplement food purchase until a child’s fifth birthday.