ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore this afternoon visited the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in Silver Spring to continue to uplift Maryland’s surge of resources and support amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The visit emphasized the compounded impact on many Marylanders’ health care premiums, which are set to increase exponentially due to inaction from the Trump-Vance Administration and Republicans in Congress.
“There is no state in the country that can fill the gap when the federal government abandons its citizens. But in Maryland, we will continue to stand in the gap, fight for our families, and bring costs down,” said Gov. Moore. “Maryland’s congressional delegation is working tirelessly to extend the federal tax credits so these increases don’t happen. We’re calling on Congressional Republicans and President Trump to get on board.”
“Donald Trump has driven our country into a partisan shutdown as notices of higher health care premiums are on their way to mailboxes in Maryland and around the country,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. “If we don’t diffuse this ticking time bomb now, millions will face huge spikes in their health insurance rates or lose it altogether. Meanwhile, Trump has been illegally withholding funds for cancer research and other national priorities. I will not give this lawless president a blank check.”
“Has life gotten better for Marylanders since President Trump took office? No. Have costs gone down? No. And now, Marylanders are going to see Republicans dramatically increase their health care costs,” said U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks. “That’s why Republicans shut down the government. It’s cruel and callous. I will continue to work alongside Team Maryland to fight for everyone in our state and stand up to this incompetent Republican Party.”
“MAGA controls the House, the Senate and the White House, but they’re using their power to make the rich richer and dismantle health care for the middle class,” said U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin. “Trump would rather shut the government down than work with us to stop health care premiums from going up under his awful bill. Maryland’s delegation is demanding that Trump take his hands off the people’s health care and reopen the government now.”
“As families across Maryland figure out their finances, they will be blindsided by skyrocketing health care premiums directly caused by reckless cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies,” said U.S. Congressman Glenn Ivey. “These tax credits aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet, they are what make quality health care affordable for working parents, seniors, and young people just starting out. By stabbing middle-class families in the back at budget time, this administration is threatening not only financial security, but also access to essential care in our communities. That is unacceptable. Folks throughout my district deserve stability, not sabotage, and I will continue fighting to restore these subsidies and protect affordable health care for every family in our region and across the country.”
“We’ve reached a pivotal point in our country’s core responsibility to take care of the safety, health and well being of its people. Our federal delegation did not want a shutdown, and we worked hard to avert it. But we must stand with Governor Moore and other state and local officials to push back against cuts to Medicaid and work to extend ACA tax credits and against a policy which will make life harder and less affordable for working Maryland families. Slashes to Medicaid could also force our rural health providers—like those in Western Maryland—to shutter or cut critical services,” said U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. “This is about our values and who we are as Americans. We cannot let this Administration “Make America Break” and must stand with our Governor and Maryland officials against our state being held hostage to partisanship, retribution and cruel hearted cuts. In Maryland, we leave no one behind.”
On September 19, the Maryland Insurance Administration approved 2026 Affordable Care Act health insurance premium rates, which are due to increase by an average of 13.4% this year as Republicans in Congress continue to fail to take action to extend the federal tax credits implemented by the Biden Administration in 2021. The anticipated expiration of the credits is also expected to result in lapsed policies that may impact the overall health status of Marylanders who obtain insurance through Maryland Health Connection, in addition to increasing the cost of coverage in the pool.
In Maryland, the enhanced tax credit contributed to an all-time high of 247,000 Marylanders enrolled in health coverage on the marketplace in 2025—a 50% increase compared to 2021—190,000 of whom specifically benefit from the enhanced tax credits and who are likely to see an average increase of 95% on their premiums in 2026 if Congressional Republicans allow the premium tax credits to expire. Marylanders who are enrolled through Maryland Health Connection will begin to receive letters next week about the increase in their coverage rates.
To help lower costs for Maryland families—and in anticipation of federal inaction on the tax cuts—Governor Moore and the Maryland General Assembly acted during the 2025 legislative session to expand Maryland’s State-Based Insurance Subsidies Program to help lower premiums for those who purchase health insurance through Maryland Health Connection who make less than 400% of the federal poverty level. In addition, in an effort to help Marylanders plan to manage expenses, the Maryland Health Connection today released the 2026 version of their “Get an Estimate” tool to compare health plans and savings.
“Maryland Health Connection is committed to providing affordable health care to all Marylanders.” said Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Executive Director Michele Eberle. “This year premiums are increasing nationally due to Congress not extending premium tax credits for families who purchase their own health insurance. In anticipation, Maryland created a new premium assistance program to help lower costs for Marylanders. You can preview the 2026 plans and prices on MarylandHealthConnection.gov.”
“I am grateful to Governor Wes Moore and his administration for their urgent efforts to highlight the importance of the Maryland Health Exchange,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are witnessing the detrimental impacts of Trump and Congressional Republicans, whose actions threaten to increase the number of uninsured individuals while simultaneously driving up premiums for others. It is deeply troubling that they choose to attack the healthcare of those who need it most, all in the name of tax cuts for the wealthy. This is an immoral choice that puts lives at risk. Under Governor Moore's leadership and through innovative solutions like the Maryland Health Exchange, our state has seen a significant reduction in the uninsured rate, dropping from 13 percent to 6 percent. Trump and Congressional Republicans are going to spike this success and it is too costly for our residents as well as every public and private sector healthcare provider. We are fortunate to have a governor who prioritizes the health and well-being of all Marylanders, alongside our dedicated Congressional Delegation and General Assembly.”
“I want to thank Governor Moore for his ongoing leadership and for coming to Silver Spring to listen to our health care navigators and workers on how they make sure residents receive health care. Today, we stood together against this cruel and reckless shutdown,” said Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart. “This shutdown affects every aspect of our lives and all Marylanders. As we have been for the last 10 months, we are unified in service to support residents and families impacted by the actions of the Trump administration and ensure their needs are met because that is what we do in Maryland.”
Maryland’s hard-working families are already facing compounded challenges as the result of Republican-backed policies that have created the risk for nearly 250,000 Marylanders to lose their health care and more than 684,000 Marylanders — including seniors, children, and veterans — potentially seeing their food assistance cut. Combined with the impacts of the federal shutdown, the Trump Administration is continuing its assault on Marylanders and Maryland’s economy.
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. 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 the Trump Administration has taken office, Maryland has lost more than 15,000 federal jobs—the largest number in the nation. The potential mass firing of more federal workers and furloughing of tens of thousands of contractors in Maryland as the result of a shutdown will only further jeopardize Maryland’s economy.
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 will also continue work 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. The Moore-Miller Administration will work closely with the State Treasurer and the Comptroller to monitor potential impacts and communicate updates.
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