Budgets are like diets-they sound great in theory until everyone is starving.


Yeah, I cracked myself up too. But here we are - staring down another congressional budget deadline, and wondering if my job at WIC is next on the chopping block. (Spoiler: I'm not laughing.)


As most of you know, I started a new job at WIC very recently. I had actually held this position before, the first person to do so in Allegany County's WIC program and here I am full circle again. I was excited and thought finally, I can breathe a little. Little did I know, Congress has decided to stir the pot: no budget passed yet. Cue dramatic music.


Now I'm waiting. Will funding disappear overnight? Seriously, the deadline is September 30. Will I be furloughed? Will clients show up expecting help I can't deliver because "Oops, Congress can't agree and forgot to sign the papers again"?


What could go wrong? Spoiler alert: A LOT.


Here's where the seriousness kicks in. WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is one of those programs people don't always see behind the scenes- but when funding vanishes, the consequences ripple fast:

  • WIC benefits could run dry within days if contingency funds run out.
  • Though WIC has some backup reserves and flexibility, this time is trickier. States may not have extra funds, and the usual safeguards are under strain.
  • If WIC stops issuing benefits or staff are furloughed, vulnerable families-pregnant women, infants, low-income children- lose access to essential nutrition and health support.


So, while I'm pacing around my house trying not to hyperventilate, I know there's a lot at stake beyond "Will I keep my paycheck."


It's weird, this limbo. A few snapshots of what's going though my head:

  • Check the email: No "urgent re: termination" YET. Ok, calm down.
  • What if funding stops mid-payroll? Yeah, that's a real- world possibility in a "shutdown world."
  • What about my bills and expenses? A big family is expensive and "Congress forgot to pay me" isn't a valid excuse.
  • But what about the clients? The families depending on WIC - they don't get to pause life just because Congress hit snooze.


I'm juggling major anxiety, uncertainty, anger, and the desire to keep serving (if I still have a job). Meanwhile, Congress seems more interested in political scoring than preventing real- life harm.


If WIC falters, it's not just a loss of employment. The fallout includes:

  • Health risks for babies and mothers. WIC isn't a luxury-it's preventative care, support, nutrition counseling. Remove the safety net and problems cascade.
  • Increased load on other systems. Hospitals, food banks, emergency services- they'll absorb the damage.
  • Loss of trust. If we can't guarantee program continuity, participants lose faith, uptake drops, and future recovery becomes harder.
  • Staff trauma. You can't keep working in "will I or won't I" mode forever without burning out. See my blog on why I left the schools.

This is bigger than me. But, because I am me, I get to feel it from the inside.


Here's how I'm trying to survive this and push for change.

  • Staying vigilant. Monitoring budget news, agency memos, and state plans.
  • Talking to my network. Sharing how this affects staff and clients- making the "behind the scenes" visible.
  • Mental survival tactics. Coping mechanisms: small routines, breaks, talking to friends, reminding myself I'm not alone.

You, reading this? You have power too. Write your congressman, tweet, share real stories. The more pressure, the harder it is to ignore.


I thought the worst thing I would worry about in a job was burnout or too many meetings. I didn't expect to worry that Congress might shut down the very thing that I work for-and might shut me out of a paycheck in the process. But, with the way my 2025 has been rolling, I should not be surprised.


Budgets and diets may have one thing in common: when mismanaged, everything starts to collapse. Except with this one, babies and vulnerable families get hurt first.