Maryland Responds to Federal Government Shutdown. The federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025, has prompted Maryland officials to enact emergency measures supporting the state’s large federal workforce and vulnerable residents. Governor Wes Moore criticized the shutdown as “avoidable and unnecessary,” placing blame on President Trump and Republican Congressional leadership for the impasse that threatens Maryland’s economy and public services.
Maryland is home to more than 60 federal facilities, 260,000 federal employees, and over 200,000 federal contractors—groups deeply impacted by lost paychecks and uncertainty. Governor Moore announced key state actions to maintain crucial federally funded programs like Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and Head Start while shielding federal workers from eviction, foreclosure, and utility shutoffs through partnerships with private and public sectors.
The state is expanding emergency assistance programs including unemployment insurance and zero-interest loan support to relieve financial distress for furloughed and displaced federal employees. Maryland’s contingency plans also ensure state-administered federal programs continue operating as long as possible during the funding lapse.
Bipartisan Maryland Delegation Advocates for Federal Workers
U.S. Representatives Sarah Elfred, April Mlan Delaney, and Johnny O, alongside Comptroller Brook Lierman, have vocally condemned the shutdown and highlighted the devastating effects on Maryland families. Representative Elfred stressed the risk of healthcare premium spikes for 190,000 Maryland residents if Congress does not act, urging swift bipartisan legislation to reopen the government with protections for federal workers.
Representative Mlan Delaney noted that shutdowns cost more than staying open and called for meaningful negotiation to end the crisis. Congressman Johnny O criticized repeated Republican cancellations of budget votes and pledged legislative efforts to protect federal employees from unjust firings.
Comptroller Lierman detailed Maryland’s steep economic losses from past shutdowns—over $13 million daily in 2019 adjusted dollars—and called for an immediate halt to the manufactured crisis. She emphasized that the federal workforce in Maryland is comprised of neighbors, families, and workers whose livelihoods directly impact the state’s economy.
State Financial Support Programs and Public Sector Unity
Treasurer Derek Davis stressed the human costs of uncertainty on mortgage payments, medical bills, and daily needs faced by Marylanders amid the shutdown. Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrien Jones assured residents of the state legislature’s commitment to offer vigilance and assistance.
Jones highlighted the expanded federal shutdown loan program, providing zero-interest bridges for workers forced to work without pay or those displaced by layoffs. First enacted in 2019, this program supports financial stability and prevents eviction or loss of essential services amid the federal funding lapse.
Maryland counties such as Prince George’s are also coordinating local resources. County Executive Aisha Braveboy has mobilized county agencies to assist residents in health care access, food security, energy assistance, and emergency services.
The shutdown highlights ongoing political divisions in Washington. Experts estimate approximately 750,000 federal employees nationwide could be furloughed during the lapse, receiving back pay only after funding resumes. The Office of Personnel Management has issued guidelines for orderly shutdown activities, including furlough notices and eligibility for back pay and unemployment insurance.
As the shutdown continues, Maryland will continue to offer a broad range of supports for federal employees and other workers impacted by federal actions, such as:
- Support in finding a new job through 33 American Job Centers and a specialized Professional Outplacement Assistance Center, including individualized career guidance, résumé workshops, mock interviews, career and skills assessment, effective job search strategies, and networking support;
- Additional career resources, such as information on transitioning to a teaching career;
- A weekly virtual workshop designed specifically for former federal employees and federal contractors, and attended by more than 1,600 workers to date;
- Job fairs and recruitment events;
- Unemployment insurance;
- Resources for veterans;
- Legal resources; and
- Resources related to health coverage, housing, and food, cash, and other assistance.
The Maryland Department of Labor and Department of Information Technology recently partnered to redesign the unemployment insurance website, including step-by-step instructions, plain language, and improved navigation to make the process easier to understand and more accessible to all Marylanders.
