Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today issued the following statement in response to a federal judge ordering the release of funds to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the federal shutdown. 

“I am deeply relieved by today’s court ruling requiring the federal government to fund SNAP benefits. This decision is a victory for the more than 680,000 Marylanders, including children, seniors, and working families, who rely on these benefits to put food on the table, and for the thousands of small businesses that depend on SNAP spending to sustain jobs and local economies. 

“SNAP is a critical safety net and an important economic stabilizer. Every dollar in SNAP benefits circulates quickly through our communities, supporting Maryland’s grocers, farmers, and retailers, and generating measurable growth in our state GDP. The abrupt suspension of those benefits would have caused immediate harm to families and triggered ripple effects across our economy. 

“I stand ready to work with Governor Moore, Attorney General Brown, our General Assembly, our federal partners and all Marylanders to ensure that no family is forced to choose between paying bills and buying food. The well-being of our residents and the stability of our economy depend on it.”