ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Transit Administration will provide free MARC and Commuter Bus service to federal workers during the ongoing federal government shutdown. The governor made the announcement at a resource fair in Howard County, where state and local agencies were present to administer resources for federal workers and their families.
“This is what Maryland does in times of crisis: We band together and we help each other out,” said Gov. Moore. “But while Maryland is mobilizing to ease the shutdown’s burden on our people, let’s be clear, no state can fill the gap created by the federal government. The longer this shutdown lasts, the more pain we will feel, so it’s time for Donald Trump to come to the negotiating table on health care and open the government.”
The free service will be provided from now through the remainder of the federal government shutdown, and any individual with a federal ID badge can ride for free by showing their badge to the operator.
“Marylanders make up a large share of the federal workforce, so we fully understand the financial strain many of our riders are experiencing,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “Free rides on MARC and Commuter Bus ensure that federal workers who are still reporting to the office have one less thing to worry about.”
The federal government is the largest employer in the State of Maryland. Prior to this year’s federal workforce cuts, 269,000 Maryland residents were employed by the federal government and more than 160,000 federal civilian jobs were located in Maryland. Since the Trump Administration has taken office, Maryland has lost more than 15,000 federal jobs—the largest number in the nation. Past government shutdowns have had direct repercussions in Maryland, with President Trump’s 2019 partial shutdown in 2018-2019 costing thousands of Marylanders $778 million in wages.
“Since day one of this shutdown, Maryland lawmakers across the federal, state, and local delegations have stood united in the fight to protect all Marylanders,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. “Thank you to Governor Moore and County Executive Ball for being incredible partners throughout these uncertain times and for your swift response to this moment. I'm proud to work with such dedicated leaders to provide the best support for our hard-working civil servants and constituents each and every day.”
“Thousands of Marylanders are facing the unnecessary uncertainty and stress of living without a paycheck following the mass firings of federal employees. We know this hardship is felt deeply across our community, and we’re here to help,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “It is what makes events like our today’s Federal Workers Resource Fair so important. I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Wes Moore and our entire state leadership team for helping our neighbors and ensuring we leave no one behind.”
State agencies uplifted the following government shutdown resources during the resource fair:
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Department of Housing and Community Development: Information on protections from eviction or foreclosure for furloughed federal employees, housing counseling, legal services, affordable housing units, homelessness prevention resources, and energy assistance.
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Department of Labor: Eligibility for unemployment insurance for furloughed employees or federal contractors; resources for career navigation; and the Federal Shutdown Loan Program, offering a $700 no-interest loan for “excepted” federal employees working without pay.
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Department of Health: Access to mental health services and support through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Local Behavioral Health Authorities.
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Department of Human Services: On-site assistance with applications for food, cash, and other aid through marylandbenefits.gov, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Temporary Cash Assistance.
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Department of Veterans and Military Families: Resources for veterans and active duty members, including the Veterans Trust Fund, and filing assistance for federal benefits.
As the shutdown continues, Maryland will continue to offer a broad range of supports for federal employees and other workers impacted by federal actions, such as:
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Support in finding a new job through 33 American Job Centers and a specialized Professional Outplacement Assistance Center, including individualized career guidance, résumé workshops, mock interviews, career and skills assessment, effective job search strategies, and networking support;
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Additional career resources, such as information on transitioning to a teaching career;
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A weekly virtual workshop designed specifically for former federal employees and federal contractors, and attended by more than 1,600 workers to date;
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Job fairs and recruitment events;
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Unemployment insurance;
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Resources for veterans;
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Legal resources; and
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Resources related to health coverage, housing, and food, cash, and other assistance.
The Moore-Miller Administration is also working to ensure that major federal programs—including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and veterans’ services—will continue to operate, assuming the state will be reimbursed for eligible federal expenses incurred during a shutdown, as has been the practice in previous federal shutdowns. The length of the shutdown and level of commitment from the federal government may impact the ability of these programs to continue to operate after an extended period.
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