Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Overseas: Revision to Definition of Drafts
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Rule
Summary
The WIC Overseas Program is updating its rules to include electronic benefit transfers along with paper food vouchers, called drafts. This change helps military families stationed abroad get their nutritious food benefits more easily and flexibly. The new rule kicks in on January 17, 2025, with no extra costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Drafts Now Include EBT/Card Options
The WIC Overseas Program definition of “drafts” now includes electronic benefit transfers and card or other approved access devices or methods. This change takes effect January 17, 2025 and applies to the roughly 10,000 participants in the WIC Overseas Program, including U.S. military families stationed abroad.
Allows Multiple Shopping Trips
Modernizing drafts lets WIC Overseas enrollees use electronic methods similar to a debit card so they can purchase authorized foods over multiple trips instead of having to use monthly paper drafts all at once. The rule is effective January 17, 2025 and is intended to help when items are out of stock or when participants prefer multiple shopping visits.
Improves Data, Lowers Fraud Risk
The rule permits use of advanced technologies for issuing drafts, which the Department says will likely improve data analysis on food types, brands, and costs and reduce the risk of fraud and abuse in the WIC Overseas Program. This modernization becomes effective January 17, 2025 and concerns the program’s administration for about 10,000 participants.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16982, Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service Staffing
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) is removing the requirement that States use State merit staff to provide Wagner-Peyser Employment Service (ES) services. This final rule allows States to use the staffing model that provides the required services with the most efficient and cost-effective model for their State.
2026-16981, Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms
The Department of Justice ("the Department") is implementing criteria to guide determinations for granting relief from disabilities imposed by federal laws with respect to the acquisition, receipt, transfer, shipment, transportation, or possession of firearms. The criteria are designed to ensure that the fundamental right of the people to keep and bear arms is not unduly infringed, that those people granted relief are not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety, and that granting such relief would not be contrary to the public interest.
2026-16973, Cypermethrin; Pesticide Tolerance(s)
This regulation establishes a tolerance action for residues of cypermethrin (CASRN 52315-07-8) in or on the food and feed commodity of cacao, dried bean. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the National Confectioners Association submitted a petition to EPA requesting that EPA establish a maximum permissible level for residues of this pesticide in or on the identified commodity.
2026-16986, Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; Moderate Attainment Plan Elements for Wisconsin's 2015 Ozone Standard Areas
The EPA is giving a thumbs-up to Wisconsin’s plan to keep ozone pollution in check around Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Sheboygan. This plan includes rules for car emissions, inspections, and new factories to help meet air quality goals by 2023. The new rules kick in on September 21, 2026, helping protect health without extra costs for residents.
2026-17003, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2025-2026 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. These inseason adjustments will increase sablefish trip limits in the limited entry (LE) and open access (OA) sectors north and south of 36[deg] North latitude (N lat.), and reduce vermilion/sunset rockfish sub-trip limits within the shelf rockfish complex in the LE and OA sectors south of 34[deg]27' N lat. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
2026-17006, Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period With Funding for Arts in Education National Program
The Secretary waives the requirements in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations that generally prohibit extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The waiver and extension enables one project under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.351A to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 30, 2027.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-01120, Air Plan Approval; AK; Updates to Materials Incorporated by Reference
The EPA is updating the official list of Alaska’s air quality rules that everyone can check out. These changes fix some errors and make things clearer but don’t add new rules or costs. Starting January 17, 2025, the updated materials will be available for public review at EPA offices and online.
Next: 2025-01131, West Virginia Regulatory Program; Correction
The Office of Surface Mining fixed some mistakes they made in their March 2024 update to West Virginia’s mining rules. They put back a rule they accidentally removed and added a missing approval to the official list. These corrections take effect January 17, 2025, so West Virginia mining companies and regulators can be sure the rules are clear and accurate.