Gov. Moore Allocates $10 Million to Food Banks; Maryland Leaders Celebrate SNAP Ruling

November 4, 2025

Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency in response to a federal government shutdown that threatened food assistance for nearly 700,000 state residents. The governor allocated $72 million total—$62 million for direct food aid and $10 million for food banks—while criticizing the Trump administration for refusing to distribute appropriated SNAP funds despite their availability. As federal workers went unpaid and food pantries experienced unprecedented demand, two federal judges ruled that the administration must release emergency SNAP funding, with one ordering partial payments by November 5.

Who is affected

Nearly 700,000 Marylanders facing loss of SNAP benefits
Approximately 42 million Americans nationally who qualify for SNAP
Federal workers across the DMV region who have gone unpaid during the shutdown
Food banks and pantries experiencing supply shortages, including Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Bowie Food Pantry, New Home Baptist Church, and Redeemers Church of Christ
Federal workers affected by layoffs and project cancellations, including those at the cancelled FBI Greenbelt headquarters and the shuttered Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

What action is being taken

Governor Wes Moore is distributing $62 million for direct food assistance and $10 million to food banks and pantries
Moore is distributing groceries at food banks alongside officials
Federal workers are turning to food banks for assistance
Redeemers Church of Christ is massively increasing their food giveaway capacity
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and 22 other attorneys general are actively suing the Trump administration over suspended SNAP benefits
Maryland Democratic members of Congress are fighting to reopen the government

Why it matters

This situation represents an unprecedented human-made crisis requiring a state of emergency declaration during what is approaching the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. The refusal to distribute already-appropriated federal funds for SNAP benefits threatens food security for millions of vulnerable Americans, including children, forcing state governments to step in despite their inability to fully fill the federal gap. The court rulings establishing that the administration's suspension of SNAP was illegal set important legal precedent about the government's obligations to provide essential nutrition assistance, and the crisis highlights the real-world consequences of government dysfunction on families' ability to meet basic needs.

What's next

Partial SNAP payments must be made by November 5 per court order
The USDA is expected to release emergency nutrition funds on Monday (following the court ruling)
Attorney General Anthony Brown will continue legal efforts as the case moves forward to force federal SNAP funding
The Trump administration will comply with court orders and not appeal the decision
Maryland officials continue calling for congressional Republicans to end the federal government shutdown

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer