A group of Democratic legislators in Annapolis and Washington, known as Team Maryland, called the government shutdown “avoidable” and “unnecessary” and announced ways they plan to help federal workers and other residents who are impacted.
During a 35-minute news conference, Gov. Wes Moore vowed to keep federal government programs working in Maryland, including Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start and veterans’ benefits. The state will work with the private sector to avoid evictions, foreclosures and utility shutoffs for federal employees not receiving a paycheck, Gov. Moore said.
Maryland also will “protect and expand” assistance programs for federal workers, who may be eligible for unemployment insurance that would be repaid when they return to work. They also may be eligible for zero-interest loans during the shutdown.
Moore said that by shutting the government down, President Donald Trump “has abandoned his duty.” Moore criticized Republican federal legislators, whom he said looked at all 50 states and declared, ‘You are now on your own.’
“We should not be right here, Maryland,” Moore said. He predicted that some current programs will be delayed, and small businesses will suffer.
Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, a Montgomery County resident, said this shutdown comes at a time when Marylanders already are hurting. There are 260,000 federal workers and more than 200,000 federal contractors who work with the federal government in Maryland, she noted.
“While the challenges are real, so is Maryland’s resolve,” Miller said. “The only way to get through this storm is together. We must lean on each other. We must count on each other.”
U.S. Rep. April McLain Delaney, D-Md., pointed out, “Ironically, the shutdown costs more than keeping the government open.” The Democrat called for more “dialogue,” adding, “We have to have another side that comes to the table.”
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman noted that 15,000 Marylanders already have lost their jobs under the Trump Administration—and this occurred as the cost of living has increased, she said.
“No one should have to choose between paying their mortgage and putting food on the table because Republican leaders failed to negotiate in good faith,” Lierman said.
“Maryland will not stand idly by,” she said. “Maryland stands with our federal workforce. We stand with families who need affordable health care, and we stand ready to lead while others choose chaos over competence.”
Maryland’s Federal Legislators Blame Republicans
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen
When the Republican Congressmembers passed the Big Beautiful Bill “which was beautiful if you’re a billionaire but really stunk if you’re anyone else – they made big cuts in Medicaid, and they did not turn off this ticking time bomb that’s going to explode on people’s health care and increase costs ultimately for everybody in America,” Van Hollen said.
The bill included tax benefits for the rich, Van Hollen said. “The tax benefit they did not extend was for working Americans to help them better afford their health care. That’s a tax benefit that they’re letting die. We want to turn off that ticking time bomb. So we’re saying to Donald Trump, ‘let’s keep the government open, but you don’t get a blank check for your lawless activity.’
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks
“Republicans have the keys to the kingdom. They control the White House and have majorities in the Senate and House. They have used the power they have to dismantle the government and negatively impact the lives and livelihoods of hardworking Americans.”
“The American people, including our patriotic federal workers, will pay the price for Republicans’ callousness and incompetence.”
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin
Raskin said the Democrats “refuse to vote for a spending bill that locks in savage cuts to the health care of the people and wages war against the middle class. Rather than work with us to extend ACA health insurance tax credits, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and keep hospitals from closing, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans have chosen to use their control of the House, the Senate and the White House to shut down the government and continue their corruption of the government and their plunder of the economy for the richest Americans.”
Refusing to extend the ACA health insurance tax credits “will lead to a more than 160% increase in monthly premiums for lower-income Americans,” according to Raskin, who represents Maryland’s 8th District.
“Democrats remain ready to come to the table to bring this irresponsible and vicious MAGA shutdown to an end,” he said.
