1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am a constituent from Cambridge, Maryland. I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the executive order issued by President Trump on January 27, 2025, which pauses all federal grants, loans, and aid, and the OPM’s policy of mass layoffs of federal employees. These decisions have the potential to cause significant harm to our agricultural industry and rural communities here in Maryland. Farmers in our state rely on federal programs that provide critical support, such as farm loans for purchasing land, livestock, and equipment, as well as funding for marketing efforts that promote American-grown food. Additionally, rural communities depend on grants and aid for essential services like housing and rental assistance, education funding for schools, support for seniors, child nutrition, and child care funding. These programs are vital to the economic health and sustainability of rural areas. The state of Maryland is already struggling to close a projected $2.7 billion budget deficit for the coming year, and cuts in federal funding will only increase the strain on our state finances. Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing your support for rural America.