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.
November 13, 2025 | 8:00 am Central
Late Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the President signed a bill to reopen the government. The bill ensures that funding is in place for several government agencies and critical food and nutrition services, including SNAP and WIC until September 30, 2026. The bill also keeps the rest of the government running through January 30, 2026.
CACFP reimbursement and cash-in-lieu funds have continued during the shutdown, and these funds will continue to be available through FY26.
November 11, 2025 | 9:30 am Central
Sunday, November 9, the Senate voted to advance a bill to fund military construction, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch through September 30, 2026, and the rest of the government through January 30, 2026. However, the House of Representatives still needs to vote to pass the bill before the government can reopen.
October 31, 2025 | 2:30 pm Central
NCA confirmed that funds were released to State agencies to cover all reimbursement and cash-in-lieu claims for November. Funds should be disbursed to operators in December as usual.
October 22, 2025 | 12:30 pm Central
NCA confirmed that funds were released to State agencies to cover all reimbursement and cash-in-lieu claims for October. Funds should be disbursed to operators in November as usual.
October 22, 2025 | 8:30 am Central
NCA continues to monitor the government shutdown and its impact on the CACFP. Through outreach efforts to States and policy partners, NCA has confirmed that many States have received funding for October.
Operators of the CACFP should submit claims for meals and snacks served in October to receive reimbursement in November.
NCA will continue to monitor the impact of the shutdown on the CACFP.
October 10, 2025 | 9:30 am Central
Budget negotiations continue as the Senate has not come to an agreement on a funding bill for FY26. The Senate will meet again on Tuesday following the Monday holiday.
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.