Which department oversees WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and school breakfast and lunch programs?

• A. Department of Agriculture
• B. Department of Health and Human Services
• C. Department of Education
• D. Department of the Treasury

Answer: (A)

Knowing which federal department oversees these programs helps you see how nutrition policy is organized at the federal level. The Department of Agriculture, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, administers WIC (the special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children) and the school breakfast and lunch programs. This agency provides the funding, sets the guidelines, and works with state and local agencies to run WIC clinics and to operate meals in schools. While health considerations are central to these programs—ensuring nutritious options and proper education—the administrative responsibility and oversight come from USDA, not the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, or the Treasury. WIC serves pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children, while the school meal programs serve eligible students in schools.