Gov. Wes Moore and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman warned on October 24, 2025, that a prolonged federal government shutdown will halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 680,000 Maryland residents starting November 1 unless Congress acts to release contingency funds. The Trump administration’s October 10 directive instructed states to pause SNAP issuances, citing insufficient federal resources, which leaves nearly 270,000 children among those affected without monthly food deposits on electronic benefit transfer cards. This development stems from the shutdown’s entry into its fourth week, with no agreement in sight between Republican congressional leaders and Democrats on funding priorities, including health insurance subsidies.
Moore, in his statement released Thursday, highlighted the administration’s refusal to tap into legally mandated contingency reserves despite prior shutdown precedents where Maryland received reimbursements for state-covered expenses. The governor noted the state’s recent fiscal turnaround from a $3 billion deficit to a $321 million surplus earlier in 2025, yet expressed skepticism about federal repayment given the Treasury’s $3.5 billion in short-term cash reserves. “There is no balance sheet to make up for when the federal government just decides to tell states, ‘You’re on your own,'” Moore said. He pledged continued advocacy to enforce federal compliance on funding for essential services supporting families, children and veterans.
Lierman echoed these concerns, framing the potential cutoff as an extension of the shutdown’s broader fallout, which has already triggered mass federal layoffs. SNAP, averaging $180 per recipient monthly, serves as a lifeline for working families, seniors and individuals with disabilities, she said. Beyond direct aid, the program bolsters Maryland’s economy by generating $1.50 in local activity for every $1 in benefits, sustaining grocery stores, farmers markets and small retailers operating on 1% to 3% profit margins. “When SNAP is cut, our local retailers suffer, our farmers lose customers, and our economy contracts,” Lierman stated. She urged Republicans to negotiate with Democrats to end the impasse, restore services and prioritize public well-being over partisan disputes.
The Maryland Department of Human Services confirmed that October benefits remain available through the 31st, with new applications processed but undeliverable without federal funds. This pause would mark the first full-month disruption since the 2018-2019 shutdown, when states like Maryland bridged gaps using reserves later reimbursed. Current estimates place statewide SNAP participation at 692,000 as of early 2025, with one in nine Marylanders relying on the program for groceries.
In Southern Maryland’s Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, the stakes carry added weight due to rural food access challenges and higher poverty rates in some areas. Statewide data from the 2025 Maryland Hunger Profiles indicate about 680,000 total participants as of February, with Southern counties accounting for roughly 10% of that figure based on historical distributions — around 68,000 individuals, including over 25,000 children. Local grocers in places like La Plata and Leonardtown, where SNAP transactions form a significant revenue share, face potential closures without this influx, mirroring national warnings of retailer strain
Community organizations are ramping up preparations. The Maryland Food Bank, which operates distribution sites in Waldorf and across the region, reports a surge in inquiries from federal workers and SNAP households. Its network provides free pantry access via an online locator tool, with phone support at 410-737-8282 for those without internet. The Capital Area Food Bank, serving Southern Maryland through partnerships, hosted distributions this week drawing furloughed employees, and anticipates doubled demand if November benefits lapse. Officials there noted that 40% of SNAP users nationwide are children under 18, amplifying long-term nutritional risks.
State leaders have activated safeguards for federal personnel, including no-interest loans up to $700 for essential workers and unemployment insurance options for furloughed staff, repayable upon back pay. Protections against evictions, foreclosures and utility disconnections apply through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. For mental health strains from financial uncertainty, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 confidential support, while behavioral health walk-in centers in counties like Charles provide same-day services seven days a week. Residents can verify eligibility or update details at MarylandBenefits.gov, where applications continue despite delivery holds.
This crisis unfolds against a backdrop of repeated shutdowns tied to budget disputes. The 2013 impasse delayed WIC payments, affecting 183,000 Marylanders then, while 2018’s 35-day stretch cost the state $800 million in economic output, per federal estimates. SNAP’s federal contingency fund, holding about $6 billion as of late October, falls short of the $9 billion needed for a full month, with $3 billion expired September 30 without renewal. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned last week that exhaustion looms by month’s end absent congressional action.
Maryland’s response draws on lessons from prior events, when bipartisan state legislation like the 2019 Federal Shutdown Paycheck Protection Act shielded workers. Today, Moore’s administration coordinates with attorneys general nationwide, including a multipartisan letter from 22 states demanding USDA clarity on child and senior protections. As November approaches, updates will flow through DHS channels, with emphasis on bridging gaps via pantries and peer networks in communities from Annapolis to the Lower Eastern Shore.
The shutdown’s ripple effects extend to agriculture, where Maryland farmers supplying SNAP-eligible produce risk lost markets. In Southern Maryland, where corn, soybeans and seafood dominate, the program’s pause could idle small operations already navigating inflation. Retailers, via groups like the Maryland Retailers Alliance, prepare contingency stocking but warn of shelf shortages if demand shifts to non-perishables.
For those eyeing eligibility, SNAP covers groceries at approved vendors, with EBT cards functioning like debit for eligible items. Recertifications proceed normally, and October’s full issuance offers a buffer. Yet experts caution that delays, even post-resolution, could span weeks due to vendor backlogs processing millions of accounts.
This scenario underscores SNAP’s dual role: immediate hunger relief and economic stabilizer. In a state where 12.5% of households face food insecurity per 2025 profiles, the program’s absence threatens not just meals but school performance, health outcomes and workforce stability. As negotiations stall in Washington, Maryland’s focus remains on mitigation, urging residents to tap local aid while pressing for federal accountability.
