On Thursday, Governor Wes Moore announced the launch of Maryland’s Federal Emergency Loan Program, offering eligible former federal employees a $700 no-interest loan to help with financial hardship following job loss due to federal layoffs, relocations, or closures.
Per the news release distributed on June 5: “Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Labor has launched the Federal Emergency Loan Program, opening an online portal for qualified former federal employees to apply for an emergency, no-interest loan. The loan program was created through the Protect Our Federal Workers Act, which the governor 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,”
said Gov. Moore.
“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. As we continue to see chaos from Washington, Maryland continues to answer crisis with courage.”
The $700 interest-free loan must be repaid 180 days after the loan agreement is signed, with an option to apply for a 90-day extension if financial hardship persists.
Former federal employees may qualify for the loan by meeting the following criteria:
-
A resident of Maryland;
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Terminated from federal employment due to a mass layoff, relocation, or closure of a unit of the federal government, or similar circumstances beyond the the individual’s control;
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Termination occurred within the six months before applying for the loan, and on or after January 1, 2025; and
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Experiencing financial hardship, which might include difficulty making on-time payments for a mortgage or rent, utilities, healthcare, childcare, a car loan or car insurance, credit cards or loans, or other household expenses.
A resident of Maryland;
Terminated from federal employment due to a mass layoff, relocation, or closure of a unit of the federal government, or similar circumstances beyond the the individual’s control;
Termination occurred within the six months before applying for the loan, and on or after January 1, 2025; and
Experiencing financial hardship, which might include difficulty making on-time payments for a mortgage or rent, utilities, healthcare, childcare, a car loan or car insurance, credit cards or loans, or other household expenses.
“Let’s be clear—these federal workers didn’t lose their jobs because they failed us,”
said House Majority Whip Jazz M. Lewis.
“They lost them because of 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. With this program, Maryland is doing what Washington won’t: standing by the people who’ve always stood up for us. I’m deeply grateful to Governor Moore and his team for standing with me to protect the livelihoods of our federal workers. In times of uncertainty, leadership means showing up—and that’s exactly what this program does. Together, we’re putting Maryland values into action and standing up for the people who make our government work every day.”
“Marylanders who are facing financial hardship due to the loss of federal jobs have dedicated their lives to public service. It’s essential that we support them during this challenging time,”
said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu.
“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.”
The loan application is now available at
mdol.submittable.com/submit
. Applicants will need to provide documentation of Maryland residency and cause and date of federal employment termination, in addition to attestation to financial hardship.
For more information, visit
the MD Labor website
and see
the program FAQs
.
For support, applicants can email
[email protected]
or call 410-541-1075 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday).”
