MD Trains, Buses Free For Federal Workers Amid Government Shutdown

Federal employees can now ride the MARC train and Maryland Transit Administration commuter buses for free during the government shutdown. Federal workers just need to show their badge to skip the fare.

The gesture alleviates some commuting costs for federal employees, many of whom are working without pay during the shutdown.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the news Friday at a federal worker resource fair in Howard County.

"But while Maryland is mobilizing to ease the shutdown’s burden on our people, let’s be clear, no state can fill the gap created by the federal government," Moore said in a press release. "The longer this shutdown lasts, the more pain we will feel, so it’s time for Donald Trump to come to the negotiating table on health care and open the government."

The federal government is Maryland's largest employer.

Before this year's job cuts, 269,000 Marylanders were employed by the federal government, and more than 160,000 federal civilian jobs were located in the state.

Maryland has lost over 15,000 federal jobs, more than any other state, since Trump returned to the White House.

"Thousands of Marylanders are facing the unnecessary uncertainty and stress of living without a paycheck following the mass firings of federal employees," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball (D) said in the release. "We know this hardship is felt deeply across our community, and we’re here to help."

Maryland is ensuring that major federal programs — including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and veterans’ services — will continue to operate during the shutdown. The state assumes it 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 the level of commitment from the federal government may affect how long these programs can run on state funds.

"Since day one of this shutdown, Maryland lawmakers across the federal, state, and local delegations have stood united in the fight to protect all Marylanders," Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-District 3) said in the release. "Thank you to Governor Moore and County Executive Ball for being incredible partners throughout these uncertain times and for your swift response to this moment."

Moore's press release outlines additional resources for federal workers.