Federal Shutdown Halts SNAP Benefits, Threatening Hunger for 680,000 Marylanders

The ongoing federal government shutdown has caused a halt in SNAP benefits, threatening food security for hundreds of thousands of Americans, including children. Governor Wes Moore of Maryland criticized the Trump Administration for directing the state not to issue SNAP benefits and for withholding contingency funding, creating fiscal uncertainty despite Maryland's budget surplus. Representative Val Hoyle condemned Republicans for the shutdown's impact on vulnerable populations, stating that negotiating government reopening without guarantees has been futile. U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan urged the Department of Agriculture to release contingency funds reserved for SNAP to prevent benefit losses, highlighting the administration's failure to provide a formal plan for funding. Federal employee union leaders have also pressured both parties to resolve the shutdown promptly. The conflict centers on political standoffs between Republicans and Democrats over government funding and subsidies, with SNAP benefits caught in the crossfire, exacerbating hunger concerns nationwide.