Howard County hosts resource fair for federal workers impacted by government shutdown
Howard County hosted a resource fair on Friday for federal employees and contractors affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown. It ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9755 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia.
Representatives from MyBGE, the Maryland Department of Labor, and several insurance providers were on-site to offer support, according to the county. The fair also featured unemployment insurance information and résumé review services.
The event came as the federal government shutdown reached its 17th day, becoming the third-longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Gov. Wes Moore also stopped by, announcing more help for these workers and detailing the state's response so far.
He also had a simple message for the federal government: open back up.
Resource fair offers hope for federal workers
Maryland is home to more than 160,000 federal civilian jobs and about 225,000 jobs supported by federal contracts, according to the governor's office.
Both county and state leaders have made efforts to support federal workers impacted by the shutdown.
Gemma Mills, a federal worker of 20 years, was one to attend-- to say she's stressed is an understatement.
"I'm wondering how my bills are gonna get paid for the rest of the month when I don't get my check next week," she said.
It's the same for Mia Caine, who's been a federal worker since 2017. She came to the fair looking for any kind of help.
"I'm just looking for resources to cut down on some of the expenses, possibly a new career, anything that will be helpful at this point," Caine said.
Since the beginning of Mr. Trump's second term, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has organized forums, town halls, and job fairs for federal workers who have been displaced.
Last week, members of Maryland's congressional delegation reaffirmed their commitment to support federal workers during the shutdown, announcing some of the assistance available to Marylanders.
The state of Maryland launched a loan program for essential employees impacted by the shutdown. The program provides a single, interest-free loan of $700 to help workers pay for essentials like rent and groceries.
Furloughed federal employees who are not working or being paid may also qualify for unemployment insurance benefits through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program. The benefits must be repaid once back pay is received.
While Caine described herself as despondent at this point, she said she's grateful for the help the county and state have offered so far.
"[This fair] is helpful for everybody, it gives hope. It actually gives tangible resources that everyone can use," she reported.
Maryland adds new service for federal workers
Gov. Wes Moore announced the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is now offering free MARC and commuter bus service for federal workers impacted by the shutdown.
Gov. Moore said over 1,000 federal workers have applied for the Federal Shutdown Loan Program so far. This is a $700 one-time no-interest loan to help with expenses like rent and groceries.
Also, around 2,000 federal workers have applied for unemployment.
When asked how long the state could pay for benefits like SNAP and WIC, Gov. Moore wouldn't give a hint of any kind of timeline.
He just stressed that no state can keep this up long-term.
"We're gonna do everything we can do for as long as we can do, but honestly, we need for the federal government to reopen," Gov. Moore said.
Both Howard County and the state have websites sharing resources for federal workers. You can find them below:
- Maryland
Shutdown and health care debate
At the center of the shutdown is a dispute over whether to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which help about 22 million Americans lower health insurance costs when buying coverage through ACA marketplaces.
The credits are set to expire at the end of 2025. Democratic lawmakers have tied their support for a government funding bill to Republicans agreeing to extend the credit.
