WASHINGTON, D.C.—The political blame game over the ongoing federal government shutdown intensified on Wednesday, as Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) and the Maryland Freedom Caucus publicly criticized the state’s Democratic delegation and Governor Wes Moore, accusing them of prioritizing “political theater” over reopening the government.

The rebuke follows a press conference held by Governor Moore and Maryland’s Democratic members of Congress at BWI-Marshall Airport Wednesday morning, where they renewed calls to end the shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025.

The Freedom Caucus’s statement, released from Washington, D.C., directly challenged the Democratic delegation’s stance, arguing that their votes and “unrelated policy demands” are responsible for the current funding lapse.

Harris: “I Was the Only Member to Vote to Keep the Government Open”

Congressman Harris, the sole Republican in the Maryland Congressional delegation, emphasized that he was the only Maryland representative to support a measure to keep federal agencies funded.

“Despite the high number of federal workers in our state, I was the only member of our delegation to vote to keep the government open,” Congressman Harris stated. He asserted that House Republicans had passed a “responsible plan to fund the government” but that Maryland Democrats chose to shut it down over “unrelated policy demands.”

Harris went on to specifically target the state’s two Democratic Senators, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, who have repeatedly voted against Republican-backed spending bills.

“Every Member of the Maryland Delegation voted to shut the government down and Maryland’s Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks have voted to shut down the government five times – and by all accounts will continue to do so,” Harris said, calling on them to reverse course. “They could end this shutdown today if they truly cared about Maryland families.”

Freedom Caucus Accuses Governor of “Political Theater”

The message from other members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus took aim at Governor Moore, who has been active in promoting state resources like the Federal Shutdown Loan Program to assist furloughed and unpaid federal workers.

“Governor Wes Moore runs to a microphone instead of leading,” the Caucus statement read. The group argued that federal workers need legislative action, not public appearances, stating: “Federal workers need Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to vote to reopen the government, not demand taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants. Marylanders deserve leadership, not political theater.”

Maryland is home to one of the largest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the country, making the state’s residents particularly sensitive to the economic impacts of a government shutdown. As Congress continues to deadlock over new funding legislation, the political divide over accountability for the shutdown deepens in Maryland.

Originally published by NottinghamMD.