Maryland Ranks Fifth Among States Most Affected by Government Shutdown, WalletHub Study Finds
TL;DR
Maryland ranks 5th most affected by the government shutdown, offering insights for strategic planning around federal employment and contract vulnerabilities.
WalletHub analyzed five metrics including federal jobs share and contract dollars per capita to rank state impacts of the partial government shutdown.
Identifying most affected states helps prioritize aid distribution and protect vulnerable populations during government funding disruptions.
Maryland leads in federal jobs and contract dollars but ranks only 5th overall in shutdown impact according to WalletHub's study.
Maryland ranks as the fifth state most affected by the 2025 government shutdown according to a comprehensive analysis by personal-finance company WalletHub. The study examined how the 23rd federal funding lapse since 1976 impacts states differently, with Maryland showing particular vulnerability due to its economic ties to federal operations.
The WalletHub comparison evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics designed to measure shutdown impact. These metrics included each state's share of federal jobs, federal contract dollars per capita, real estate as a percentage of gross state product, access to national parks, and the percentage of families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Maryland's high overall ranking stems from leading the nation in two critical categories. The state ranks first in both share of federal jobs and federal contract dollars per capita, indicating a deep economic dependence on federal government operations and spending. This dual vulnerability means Maryland workers and businesses face disproportionate effects when government functions cease.
The state placed seventh in real estate as a percentage of gross state product, suggesting the shutdown could impact property markets and related industries. Maryland ranked 16th in access to national parks, indicating moderate tourism implications from park closures. The state showed relative strength in one area, ranking 27th in percentage of families receiving SNAP benefits, suggesting less immediate food security concerns compared to other states.
For readers seeking detailed methodology and complete state rankings, the full analysis is available at https://wallethub.com. The findings provide crucial context for Maryland residents, businesses, and policymakers understanding the shutdown's localized economic consequences. The data suggests Maryland's economy faces significant disruption due to its concentration of federal employment and contracting activity.
The implications extend beyond immediate government workers to contractors, service providers, and businesses dependent on federal spending. The ranking highlights how geographic concentration of federal operations creates regional economic vulnerabilities during budgetary standoffs. For Maryland's business community, the study underscores the importance of contingency planning during federal funding uncertainties.
As the 11th actual government shutdown since the modern budgeting era began, the current partial shutdown continues a pattern of budgetary instability with uneven geographic consequences. WalletHub's analysis provides quantitative evidence of how these political impasses translate into real economic impacts across different regions of the country.
Curated from citybiz