Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency on Oct. 30, 2025, to counter the economic fallout from the ongoing federal government shutdown, directing $10 million in emergency grants to food assistance organizations across the state. The move targets the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits starting Nov. 1, which threatens food access for 680,000 Marylanders, including 270,000 children, 120,000 older adults and 130,000 people with disabilities.
The declaration responds to the Trump administration’s decision not to release congressionally appropriated contingency funds for November SNAP payments, alongside the elimination of 15,000 federal jobs in Maryland. Benefits remain available through Oct. 31, but the halt could exacerbate hunger in communities already strained by furloughs affecting thousands of federal workers. More than 20,000 unemployment insurance claims have been filed with the Maryland Department of Labor since Oct. 1, including 5,200 for the week ending Oct. 25.
“Withholding funding from food assistance is not just illegal, it’s also cruel,” Moore said. “680,000 Marylanders rely on SNAP to put food on the table—we’re talking about 120,000 older adults; 270,000 children; and 130,000 Marylanders with disabilities. The federal government is looking them in the eyes and saying ‘You’re on your own.’” He added, “But in Maryland, we protect our people. It’s not the work of a single day or a single announcement. It’s an ongoing pledge—one that we refuse to abandon or abridge. We will keep taking this week by week, and work with our legislative partners to do the most we can with the resources we have. In Maryland, we take care of each other. It’s who we are. And together, we will weather this storm and leave no one behind.”
The funding draws from the state’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund and will support purchases and distributions through food banks, local pantries, school programs and mobile deliveries, with priority for older adults and those with disabilities. The Maryland Department of Human Services is evaluating recipients using data to ensure equitable allocation, while the Department of Emergency Management provides logistical aid. Distribution aims for transparency and speed in high-need areas.
In Southern Maryland, where federal installations like Naval Air Station Patuxent River drive the economy, the shutdown hits hard. St. Mary’s County, home to about 89 federal workers per 1,000 residents, has seen bipartisan calls from commissioners for a clean funding bill to protect local jobs and services. The region employs thousands in federal roles; Charles County alone reported 9,644 government sector jobs in recent quarterly data, many tied to defense and research facilities. Across St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties, roughly 20,000 to 25,000 residents hold federal positions, based on 2023 U.S. Census estimates for the broader Southern Maryland workforce.
SNAP reliance here mirrors state trends, with 15.3% of Maryland households with children participating in 2023, compared to 8.3% without. Local leaders in St. Mary’s are alerting residents to resources as benefits risk delay. Food pantries in Calvert, such as the Calvert County Food Bank in Prince Frederick, and Charles County’s Southern Maryland Food Bank in La Plata, have expanded hours and stocks in anticipation. These outlets, along with mobile programs serving rural areas like Mechanicsville and Charlotte Hall, could see a 20% to 30% demand spike, drawing from patterns in the 2018-2019 shutdown when Maryland food banks distributed an extra 5 million pounds statewide.
The administration’s action breaks from past shutdowns, where Maryland recovered reimbursements for federal program costs. This time, no such guarantees exist, prompting the proactive state intervention to avert a broader crisis. Comptroller Brooke Lierman and lawmakers have urged further state coverage for the $125 million in monthly SNAP value, which generates $187 million in economic activity and sustains 13,000 jobs.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman praised the response: “The Trump Administration’s refusal to release the contingency funds that Congress appropriated for SNAP benefits during this shutdown is a horrific misuse of power. While Trump is choosing to starve American families, Governor Wes Moore is stepping up to protect our people. Governor Moore’s actions today will provide his team the flexibility they need to treat this crisis like the emergency it is and help prevent our residents from going hungry while the Trump Administration continues to play politics with the lives of Americans.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen echoed the sentiment: “Donald Trump is intentionally withholding billions of dollars in emergency funds provided by Congress that would keep SNAP benefits flowing in November during this Republican shutdown—deliberately choosing to inflict pain and hunger on millions of American families, including hundreds of thousands of Marylanders. While this Administration turns its back on people struggling to feed their families amid rising costs, Team Maryland continues to stand with them. As we continue to fight in Congress to reopen the government with a responsible funding agreement to rein in Trump’s lawlessness and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing, I’m glad that Governor Moore is taking action to help keep food on Marylanders’ tables.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides electronic benefits via cards for groceries at approved retailers. Eligibility considers income up to 130% of the federal poverty level, with households averaging $200 monthly per person. The program, administered federally but processed locally, supports nutrition amid inflation, where Maryland grocery costs rose 2.5% in 2024.
For federal workers, Maryland offers layered supports. The Department of Human Services maintains a shutdown Q&A at dhs.maryland.gov. The 211 helpline connects callers to pantries; dial 211 or visit 211maryland.org. Job seekers access 33 American Job Centers, including the Southern Maryland Professional Outplacement Assistance Center in Waldorf, offering resume reviews, interview prep and networking. A weekly virtual workshop for federal employees has drawn 1,700 participants, while job fairs target transitions to state roles or teaching certifications via marylandpublicschools.org.
Unemployment insurance processes claims online at dllr.state.md.us; benefits average $430 weekly. Veterans tap dedicated resources at dllr.maryland.gov/veterans, and legal aid flows through marylandlegalaid.org. Health coverage queries go to marylandhealthconnection.gov, with housing help at dhcd.maryland.gov.
Historically, Maryland’s 2018 shutdown furloughed 24,000 workers and delayed $200 million in services, per state audits. Food banks then absorbed 15% more visits, underscoring the cycle: lost pay reduces spending, straining local economies like Southern Maryland’s, where federal payroll tops $4 billion annually. As the shutdown stretches past 24 days, state officials press for federal compliance on SNAP funds and an end to the impasse, rooted in budget disputes over immigration and spending caps.
Marylanders needing aid should update SNAP details at marylandbenefits.gov to resume benefits post-shutdown. The Department of Human Services continues applications despite delays.
