Maryland Allocates $62 Million to Ensure Full Food Assistance Amid Federal Cutbacks

November 4, 2025

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has allocated $62 million in state funds to ensure residents receive their full November SNAP food assistance benefits after the Trump administration announced it would only distribute partial payments during an ongoing government shutdown. This emergency measure affects approximately 360,000 Maryland households who rely on food stamps, as the federal government plans to pay only about half of the benefits owed to 42 million Americans nationwide. Despite two federal judges ruling that suspending SNAP payments violates the law, the administration has refused to use contingency funds for full payment, forcing states to bridge the gap.

Who is affected

Approximately 360,000 Maryland households receiving SNAP benefits
42 million Americans nationwide who depend on the SNAP program
More than 269,000 federal workers in Maryland who are furloughed or working without pay
85,000 District of Columbia households receiving SNAP benefits
Food banks and community organizations experiencing surging demand
Low-income families across the country relying on federal nutrition assistance

What action is being taken

Governor Wes Moore is releasing $62 million from Maryland's Fiscal Responsibility Fund to cover full November SNAP benefits
Maryland's Department of Human Services is overseeing distribution of funds to SNAP recipients
Maryland has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's SNAP suspension
Maryland has declared a temporary State of Emergency to address shutdown effects
Mayor Muriel Bowser is allocating $29 million from District contingency funds to cover partial federal SNAP payments
The Trump administration is distributing partial SNAP payments covering roughly half of November benefits

Why it matters

This situation represents a fundamental breakdown in the federal government's responsibility to provide essential nutrition assistance to vulnerable populations, forcing state and local governments to shoulder financial burdens they cannot sustain long-term. The administration's decision to pay only partial benefits despite court orders and available contingency funds risks widespread hunger among millions of Americans and creates economic instability. The crisis demonstrates how political dysfunction at the federal level directly threatens the food security of low-income families and places unprecedented strain on state resources, with individual states unable to fill the "enormous gap" created by federal inaction across the entire country.

What's next

Maryland will continue providing support services including food access, unemployment insurance, legal guidance, and health coverage
The multistate lawsuit challenging the federal SNAP suspension will proceed through the courts
Governor Moore and other state officials will continue demanding the federal government fulfill its responsibilities to fully fund food assistance

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer