Some Maryland officials and politicians said the federal government shutdown will negatively affect the state and its residents.
Gov. Wes Moore said in a press conference Wednesday morning that the shutdown was avoidable and will directly hurt Maryland residents.
“The longer this unnecessary federal government shutdown goes on, the harder it is for us to keep services going,” he said.
Moore emphasized his goal of keeping the state safe through programs that allow federal agencies to continue paid operations throughout Maryland. He said he plans to expand emergency assistance programs for furloughed workers.
A government shutdown happens when Congress fails to approve funding bills for federal agencies and programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the National Institute of Health and the Department of Education.
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About 750,000 employees could be furloughed per day because of the shutdown, which would lead to an estimated $400 million in lost compensation each work day, according to a letter from the Congressional Budget Office.
Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller also emphasized the influence the federal government has within the state of Maryland. With more than 60 federal facilities, 260,000 federal workers and 200,000 contractors, Miller said Maryland could bear the consequences of the shutdown more than any other state in the country.
U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released a statement Wednesday blaming Republicans for the shutdown.
“Republicans have the keys to the kingdom,” she wrote. “The American people, including our patriotic federal workers, will pay the price for Republicans’ callousness and incompetence.”
The shutdown disregards thousands of federal workers in the fourth district of Maryland, which includes most of Prince George’s County, U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) said in a Wednesday news release.
“From day one of this administration, federal workers have been under attack — even as they continue to serve the American people with dedication and professionalism,” he said.
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy said in a Wednesday news release that she is working to identify areas where residents have been immediately affected by the shutdown. She said the county plans to “be at the ready to meet the needs of the people.”
Prince George’s County Council chair Edward Burroughs expressed his concerns in the joint statement with Braveboy.
“Prince George’s County has already faced unprecedented challenges under the Trump administration,” Burroughs wrote. “The last thing we need is further uncertainty regarding federal jobs and support.”
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More than 15,000 Marylanders were affected by a slew of federal layoffs that occurred after President Trump’s reelection, according to Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.
The federal government invested $150 billion annually to the state of Maryland prior to President Trump’s return to office, according to Lierman. At least 400,000 Maryland residents rely on federal paychecks.
Maryland has seen a decline in federal investments since January and is “approaching a critical point,” Lierman said.
Moore mentioned in his press conference that keeping the government open and functioning should not be at the expense of healthcare access
The White House released a statement on Wednesday denying any fault in the shutdown, saying it is “100% on Democrats, whose radical agenda is poisoning [U.S.] politics.”
“My message to President Trump is clear: stop this shutdown,” Moore said. “You’re the one causing it, we’re the ones dealing with it, and Marylanders are the ones feeling it.”
