diff --git a/changes/10241.bacgkround.rst b/changes/10241.bacgkround.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b973aa748c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/10241.bacgkround.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added MIRI WFSS background subtraction of a reference file.
diff --git a/jwst/background/background_step.py b/jwst/background/background_step.py
index 23d394f1a4..2f197916fe 100644
--- a/jwst/background/background_step.py
+++ b/jwst/background/background_step.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-WFSS_TYPES = ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS"]
+WFSS_TYPES = ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS", "MIR_WFSS"]
 
 
 class BackgroundStep(Step):
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def process(self, step_input, input_bkg_list=None):
         asn = self.load_as_level2_asn(step_input)
         model, members_by_type = self._asn_get_data(asn)
 
-        if model.meta.exposure.type in ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_WFSS"]:
+        if model.meta.exposure.type in ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_WFSS", "MIR_WFSS"]:
             # Get the reference file names
             bkg_name = self.get_reference_file(model, "bkg")
             wlrange_name = self.get_reference_file(model, "wavelengthrange")
diff --git a/jwst/pipeline/calwebb_spec2.py b/jwst/pipeline/calwebb_spec2.py
index 7dd66aca50..c72c84f7ce 100644
--- a/jwst/pipeline/calwebb_spec2.py
+++ b/jwst/pipeline/calwebb_spec2.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 ]
 
 GRISM_TYPES = ["NRC_TSGRISM", "NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS"]
-EXP_TYPES_USING_REFBKGDS = ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS", "NIS_SOSS"]
+EXP_TYPES_USING_REFBKGDS = ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS", "NIS_SOSS", "MIR_WFSS"]
 WFSS_TYPES = ["NIS_WFSS", "NRC_GRISM", "NRC_WFSS", "MIR_WFSS"]
 TA_TYPES = ["MIR_LRS-FIXEDSLIT", "MIR_LRS-SLITLESS"]