The next is the transcript of the interview with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 9, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by the Democratic governor of Maryland, Wes Moore. Good to have you ever right here in particular person.
GOV. WES MOORE: Nice to be with you. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Governor, one in eight People use meals stamps. In Maryland, you have got about 700,000 individuals, as I perceive it, who depend on this for meals help. For the reason that Supreme Court docket put that keep in place on Friday, have you learnt whether or not that cash will really be out there to residents in your state to purchase meals?
GOV. MOORE: We do not know, and that is why we’re not ready. It’s why, simply prior to now few days, I’ve licensed over $10 million that is going in direction of heating help for individuals within the state of Maryland. Over $10 million has gone to our Maryland meals banks that we’ve got made public transportation free for all of our federal employees, as a result of they’re, in lots of circumstances, are going to work and never being paid. And I’ve additionally licensed $62 million to go in direction of SNAP to guarantee that SNAP just isn’t going to be interrupted for the individuals of Maryland for so long as we are able to, even if we’re ready for the President of the USA to lastly do his job. We’re watching the president who’s actually breaking the regulation so individuals can starve, however we’re not going to sit down there and tolerate in our state.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, you simply heard Director Hassett say that they’re attempting to comply with the regulation, which is why they went to the courts. The USDA did say they have been going to work in direction of implementing full funds after which there was this Supreme Court docket keep put in place. So, do you have got readability on when cash could be coming by way of in any respect, what is the federal authorities telling you?
GOV. MOORE: There isn’t any clarity- readability in any respect. Prior to now- prior to now six days, we have acquired 4 totally different measures of steerage from the USDA and from the Trump administration about find out how to deal with it. The place initially it was mentioned, nicely, hear, we wish the states to assist, to help and even if this program was constructed as a partnership between the federal authorities and the states, the place the federal authorities have been actually serving to to underwrite these prices for individuals, after which as soon as we determined to step up and say, we’re going to guarantee that our individuals are going to be okay–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — You might be fronting the cash?–
GOV. MOORE: — That we’re going to entrance the cash. We have now acquired steerage saying the states are going to be punished for fronting the cash. There’s a chaos, and it’s an intentional chaos that we’re seeing from this administration, and the place they’ve cash for all the things. They bought cash to struggle wars, they bought cash for ballrooms, they bought cash for all the things, however on the subject of supporting the American individuals, that is now when they’re crying, nicely, we’re broke, and that is not what the regulation requires us to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As , the White Home says those- these sponsorships for the ballroom are separate from authorities cash. However on- on the problem, although, of the shutdown itself. On Friday, we did see the Democratic Chief Schumer supply to finish it if Republicans conform to a one-year extension of the Obamacare well being care subsidies. Republicans mentioned that is a- that is a nonstarter. That is going to make this an enormous concern for the midterms. However would you- would you inform the Democrats on Capitol Hill to dig in? That the ache that the people who find themselves residing in your state is by some means going to be price it in the long run, for an extension of a tax credit score?
GOV. MOORE: There isn’t any ache that’s price it. Our individuals are hurting, and so they’re hurting due to these video games that we proceed to see from Washington, DC.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However would you inform Democrats, simply take the vote, open the federal government, then hold negotiating well being care?
GOV. MOORE: I would like the federal government reopened now. There isn’t any state that’s coping with extra of an influence from this than the state of Maryland. We have now over 260,000 federal employees inside our state. That even earlier than the shutdown, Donald Trump had fired over 15,000 Maryland employees, federal employees, greater than some other state on this nation. However I additionally know that saying {that a} prerequisite for having the federal authorities open should not be kicking up premiums by 90%, by kicking individuals off of well being care. There is a bar- there’s a- there’s a- there is a barbaric nature to this ask and this request, significantly once we’re watching how the Trump you know- the Trump administration, they’ve the White Home, the Home and the Senate. They’ll get this deal completed by simply merely making a telephone name, however they’re permitting this ache to exist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However Democrats even have a promise from the Republican chief within the Senate that he’ll speak about well being care in the event that they reopen the federal government. Why is not that adequate? Would you inform your members of the Democratic Get together to- to alleviate the ache within the fast time period out of your state?
GOV. MOORE: I’d inform them that we have to be certain that reopening the federal government doesn’t imply kicking my individuals off of well being care. That once we’re spending time proper now over in Western Maryland and Appalachia, and I am proud to function the as the- as a co-chair of the Appalachian Regional- Regional Fee the place we’re serving Appalachia all all through not simply Maryland, however all through West Virginia, all through Tennessee and Pennsylvania. And once we’re talking to our people on the market who’re already watching their premiums leap, who’re already watching all the things develop into dearer due to these insurance policies, I do not assume that anyone, whether or not in Western Maryland or any a part of my state, would say sure, it is okay, in case you simply watch my well being care go away.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, well being care costs are going up, even within the non-public market, for lots of various causes. However let me ask you about what’s taking place in Maryland. This previous Tuesday, out in California, we noticed this Proposition 50. 64% of California voters got here out in help of what Gavin Newsom put on the market with redistricting. This is able to permit him to cost forward with plans to probably achieve an extra 5 Democratic congressional seats. That is gerrymandering. You’re looking at midterm redistricting in your state as nicely. Of eight districts, you solely have one Republican. Do you actually assume Maryland is drawn in an unfair method proper now?
GOV. WES MOORE: I believe that the rationale that I ordered the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Fee is as a result of I need to guarantee that we are able to have a bipartisan group having the ability to take a look at the maps within the state of Maryland. That is one thing that occurs each single–
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do not assume these maps are honest now?
GOV. MOORE: –this is one thing that occurs each single decade. And if different states are going to have this course of and undergo this- undergo this journey of figuring out whether or not or not they’ve honest maps in a mid-decade cycle, then so ought to Maryland. I am simply unsure why we must be taking part in by a unique algorithm than Texas, or than Florida, or than Ohio or all these different locations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Since you say these states are being unfair. So why undertake unfair insurance policies in your state?
GOV. MOORE: That is simply merely about ensuring that we are able to have honest and consultant maps and we are able to undergo our course of. It is the rationale that I put collectively this fee the place my job just isn’t to attract the maps, that- what we have simply merely mentioned is I would like this bipartisan fee to have the ability to really communicate with the individuals and to have the ability to undergo their course of and simply merely say that if different states are going to undergo this course of, that we’re not simply going to sit down on our arms as a result of Donald Trump tells us to. That is not the best way this course of goes to work.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your State Senate President, Democrat Invoice Ferguson says this might backfire. He wrote, ‘I consider mid cycle redistricting twist guidelines for potential quick time period benefit whereas undermining belief in establishments and finally, democracy. It is too dangerous and jeopardizes your state’s potential to struggle towards the unconventional Trump administration.’ How do you make certain it does not backfire? Do you settle for a map that offers you extra Republican districts? You are not going to do this.
GOV. MOORE: I believe combating for democracy isn’t dangerous. I believe that is our job as leaders and elected officers, and–
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you are not committing to going with the result of what this Fee supplies to you?
GOV. MOORE: No, I believe the fee of what I would like is for the fee to do their work and the fee to do their job. My job just isn’t to attract the maps, and admittedly, it is a state legislature’s job to determine to vote on it. That’s not my accountability. My job is to guarantee that I am defending the democratic course of. And the Senate President and I, we agree on the disaster that Donald Trump has put us in. He agrees on the truth that we’ve got watched a administration that is utilizing the Structure prefer it’s a suggestion field. However what I am simply- and the place we- the place we differ, is the urgency that this second requires, the struggle that this second requires. And I personally am somebody who just isn’t going to permit Donald Trump to find out whether or not or not Maryland follows this concept of claiming, are we going to do all the things we are able to to ensure we’re preserving our democracy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor Moore, thanks in your time this morning.
GOV. MOORE: Thanks a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’ll be proper again with much more ‘Face the Nation.’ So, stick with us.
