Trump Administration Freezes $185 Million in Maryland Grants Amid Government Shutdown
The Trump administration has frozen $185 million in federal grants to Maryland during the government shutdown, prompting Governor Wes Moore to describe the actions as 'petty, partisan, and punishing' while a new poll shows Marylanders struggle to identify Moore's achievements despite overall approval.
The Trump administration has frozen or canceled nearly $28 billion reserved for more than 200 projects primarily located in Democratic-led cities, congressional districts and states, including $185 million across 13 grants to Maryland. This action comes two weeks into the government shutdown and affects Maryland's lone Republican 1st District, home to U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
Governor Wes Moore responded strongly to the funding freeze, stating at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall that while he doesn't have a "personal beef" with President Donald Trump, "the assault that we've now had on the state of Maryland has been aggressive, has been intentional, it's been petty, it's been partisan and it's been punishing." The event, Impact Maryland 2025, was sponsored by The Baltimore Banner.
A new statewide Banner poll reveals that while a majority of Marylanders approve of Governor Moore's job performance, they struggle to identify his specific achievements and offer only soft support. The poll surveyed a representative sample of Maryland registered voters about their opinions of Moore, Trump, and issues including housing, schools, crime, immigration and transportation.
Meanwhile, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has refused to display a new video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. BWI joins other airports nationwide not showing the statement that has sparked debate over political speech by federal employees.
The funding freeze has prompted protests from federal workers and Democratic lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia, who rallied against OMB Director Russell Vought, the Trump administration and House Republicans across the street from the Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C. The lawmakers have stayed away from Washington for the two weeks since the shutdown began October 1, according to Maryland Matters.
In other state news, the Maryland attorney general's office is replacing leadership of its police oversight unit after top staffers resigned following the dismissal of officer indictments by an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge. The shake-up comes about two weeks after the judge threw out charges against two county police officers accused of misconduct during a fatal 2023 pursuit in Pasadena.
The political tensions extend to local levels, with Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) taking aim at President Trump and the Republican Party during a nearly 40-minute keynote speech at the Talbot County Democratic Forum's annual Kennedy-King Unity Dinner in Easton. Raskin addressed current issues including immigration enforcement and Trump's ongoing battles with federal courts.