Monitoring the Government Shutdown
September 30, 2025
We are closely monitoring the government shutdown on October 1 and its impact on the CACFP. As your trusted partner, we’ll use this blog to keep you informed with timely updates. Please check back frequently.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to provide “nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons."
The National CACFP Association (NCA) recognizes that eating habits are developed early in life and that the CACFP contributes to healthy lifelong eating habits not only through introducing children to nutritious foods at a young age, but also through nutrition education and physical activity. The CACFP also safeguards the health and wellness of over 4.5 million children and adults across the United States and is a vital intervention for our nation’s youngest and most vulnerable populations.
October 1, 2025 | 8:30 am Central
USDA has drafted a Lapse of Funding Plan to address funding and support. Specific information for Child Nutrition Programs is as follows: "Child Nutrition Programs (CNP): Carryover funding and recoveries are available to continue to reimburse schools as well as child and adult care providers for meals served in September and October. In addition, the Child Nutrition Programs are largely funded by the Section 32 transfer from Treasury, which can be made available in advance of annual appropriations acts (7 USC 612c-6). To fulfill this Congressional intent to continue the program during a lapse, it is a necessary implication that a limited number of FNS employees be excepted from furlough to support program operations. These activities include, but are not limited to program policy and operations, financial management, and stakeholder communications."
Plans specific for USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) can be found in the plan on pages 15-16.
October 1, 2025 | 8:05 am Central
As of 12:01 am on October 1, 2025, the US Government has shut down. What does this mean for CACFP reimbursement? CACFP operators and sponsors submitting claims for the month of September should be reimbursed. Sponsors and operators should continue their normal claims process and submit CACFP claims for September.