Maryland, with its proximity to Washington, D.C., is the state fifth hardest hit by the government shutdown, according to the financial services firm WalletHub.
The U.S. is in the middle of its 11th government shutdown since 1976. This shutdown stems from disputes over spending limits, foreign aid cuts and health care cuts. It follows the record-long 35-day shutdown of 2018–2019 and may ultimately rival it in length and impact.
Key facts about the 2025 shutdown
According to WalletHub:
- Roughly 900,000 federal employees have been furloughed, and nearly 700,000 are working without pay.
- Unlike previous shutdowns, there’s uncertainty about whether all workers will receive back pay, with some even facing permanent layoffs.
- Essential services like air traffic control and military operations continue, but many agencies — including the IRS, Department of Education, and CDC — have slowed or paused operations.
- The shutdown is costing the economy an estimated $400 million per day.
Certain states are being hit particularly hard due to their high share of federal workers and contractors. To determine the states most affected by the 2025 shutdown, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. They range from each state’s share of federal jobs to federal contract dollars per capita to national park access. You can check out the findings below, followed by a complete description of our methodology.
While Maryland ranked fifth on the WalletHub analysis, Pennsylvania ranked 22nd.
Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst noted, “The latest government shutdown makes life stressful for people across the U.S., but places like D.C. and Hawaii, where a high percentage of residents work directly for the government or have government contracts, are getting hit the hardest. States with a lot of residents who receive SNAP benefits, such as New Mexico, also could be in a dire situation if money for this vital program runs out before the gridlock ends. Plus, states with real-estate dependent economies are suffering from federal delays in mortgage processing, and states with a lot of national parks may hurt their tourism and revenue by not being able to offer certain park services.”
