Statement
Statement from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on Governor Wes Moore’s Emergency Declaration and the Montgomery County Council’s Special Appropriations to Support Residents Impacted by the Federal Shutdown
For Immediate Release: Thursday 30 October
I want to thank Governor Wes Moore for declaring a state of emergency and dedicating $10 million in state funds to help food banks and community organizations across Maryland. I also want to recognize Attorney General Anthony Brown for joining other state attorneys general in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Trump Administration for cutting off SNAP funding. The actions of our governor and attorney general are crucial in addressing this unprecedented national emergency that cuts off food to those most in need.
Here in Montgomery County, we are already seeing the toll of the federal shutdown and the Trump administration’s refusal to release SNAP funding or work with Democrats in Congress to end this standoff. Their actions have real and immediate consequences for families. In our County alone, nearly 70,000 residents, including 29,566 children and 39,280 adults, rely on SNAP benefits each month. That represents about $12 million in food purchases that circulate through our local economy, supporting grocery stores, farmers' markets, and small food retailers. The loss of that funding will create hardship not only for families but also for the businesses that serve them. This is unacceptable and downright cruel.
I also want to commend the Council for working with my team to propose a $7.75 million special appropriation to help Montgomery County residents and nonprofits weather this crisis. That funding will:
- Provide $3.5 million to the Office of Food Systems Resilience to support food assistance efforts for residents impacted by the shutdown.
- Direct $1 million to the Short-Term Housing and Resolution Program (SHARP) to help residents facing homelessness.
- Support nonprofits through $2.25 million in community grants to offset delayed or lost federal funds and build long-term capacity.
- Invest $500,000 in economic development through the MOVE program to help small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Provide $500,000 to the Montgomery County Pride Center, which remains the County’s only comprehensive provider of LGBTQIA+ services.
Together, these actions by the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and our County Council reflect the values that define Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. We take care of one another, and we do not let partisan politics determine who eats, who works, or who has a place to live. While neither the County nor the State has the resources to backfill the loss of federal funding for SNAP, Montgomery County will continue to do everything in our power to support families and to push back against federal policies that harm the people we serve.
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Release ID: 25-025