BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Thursday announced that an emergency loan program for qualified former federal employees is now open for applications. The initiative offers no-interest loans to those terminated from federal employment due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Federal Emergency Loan Program, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor, was established through the Protect Our Federal Workers Act, which Moore signed into law in April.
“Maryland is mobilizing. In partnership with the Maryland General Assembly, we are extending a hand to our public servants and protecting our people,” Moore said in a statement. “This is the latest chapter in our work to ensure our federal workers get the support they need, from building new pathways to careers in education to delivering essential resources to families in need.”
The $700 interest-free loan must be repaid within 180 days of the loan agreement being signed. An option for a 90-day extension is available for those who continue to experience financial hardship.
To qualify, applicants must be Maryland residents who were terminated from federal employment due to a mass layoff, relocation, closure of a federal unit, or similar involuntary circumstances. Their termination must have occurred within six months before applying and on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Applicants must also be experiencing financial hardship, such as difficulty with mortgage, rent, utility, or other household payments.
House Majority Whip Jazz M. Lewis emphasized that the program aims to support public servants impacted by “reckless decisions in Washington that turned public servants into political targets.”
“These are our neighbors, our veterans, our civil servants — people who dedicated their lives to this country,” Lewis said. “With this program, Maryland is doing what Washington won’t: standing by the people who’ve always stood up for us.”
Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu highlighted the state’s broader efforts to assist those affected by federal job loss.
“This loan program is an important piece of Maryland’s larger effort to respond to federal job loss, providing emergency financial assistance while we are also working to connect thousands of Marylanders to new job opportunities and help with career transition,” Wu said.
Applications can be submitted online at mdol.submittable.com/submit. Applicants will need to provide documentation of Maryland residency, the cause and date of their federal employment termination, and an attestation of financial hardship.
For more information, applicants can visit the Maryland Department of Labor website or call (410) 541-1075 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Photo via Governor Wes Moore
