The next is the transcript of the interview with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 9, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are joined now via the Democratic governor of Maryland, Wes Moore. Excellent to have you ever right here in individual.
GOV. WES MOORE: Nice to be with you. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Governor, one in 8 American citizens use meals stamps. In Maryland, you may have about 700,000 folks, as I comprehend it, who depend on this for meals help. For the reason that Splendid Court docket put that keep in position on Friday, are you aware whether or not that cash will if truth be told be to be had to citizens to your state to shop for meals?
GOV. MOORE: We do not know, and that’s the reason why we aren’t ready. It’s why, simply prior to now few days, I’ve approved over $10 million that is going against heating help for folks within the state of Maryland. Over $10 million has long past to our Maryland meals banks that we’ve got made public transportation unfastened for all of our federal staff, as a result of they’re, in lots of instances, are going to paintings and now not being paid. And I’ve additionally approved $62 million to head against SNAP to make certain that SNAP isn’t going to be interrupted for the folk of Maryland for so long as we will be able to, even if we’re looking forward to the President of the US to in spite of everything do his process. We’re gazing the president who’s actually breaking the legislation so folks can starve, however we aren’t going to sit down there and tolerate in our state.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, you simply heard Director Hassett say that they’re seeking to observe the legislation, which is why they went to the courts. The USDA did say they have been going to paintings against imposing complete bills after which there used to be this Splendid Court docket keep installed position. So, do you may have readability on when cash may well be coming via in any respect, what is the federal executive telling you?
GOV. MOORE: There is not any clarity- readability in any respect. Up to now- prior to now six days, we’ve got won 4 other measures of steering from the USDA and from the Trump management about methods to take care of it. The place first of all it used to be mentioned, neatly, concentrate, we would like the states to lend a hand, to strengthen and even if this program used to be constructed as a partnership between the government and the states, the place the government have been actually serving to to underwrite those prices for folks, after which after we made up our minds to step up and say, we’re going to make certain that our persons are going to be okay–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — You’re fronting the cash?–
GOV. MOORE: — That we’re going to entrance the cash. We have now now won steering announcing 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 management, and the place they’ve cash for the entirety. They were given cash to battle wars, they were given cash for ballrooms, they were given cash for the entirety, however in terms of supporting the American folks, that is now when they’re crying, neatly, we are broke, and that’s the reason now not what the legislation calls for us to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As you recognize, the White Area says those- these sponsorships for the ballroom are break away executive cash. However on- at the factor, regardless that, of the shutdown itself. On Friday, we did see the Democratic Chief Schumer be offering to finish it if Republicans comply with 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 a large factor 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 to your state is in some way going to be price it after all, for an extension of a tax credit score?
GOV. MOORE: There is not any ache this is price it. Our persons are hurting, and they are hurting as a result of those video games that we proceed to look from Washington, DC.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However would you inform Democrats, simply take the vote, open the federal government, then stay negotiating well being care?
GOV. MOORE: I need the federal government reopened now. There is not any state this is coping with extra of an affect from this than the state of Maryland. Now we have over 260,000 federal staff inside of our state. That even earlier than the shutdown, Donald Trump had fired over 15,000 Maryland staff, federal staff, greater than every other state on this nation. However I additionally know that pronouncing {that a} prerequisite for having the government open should not be kicking up premiums via 90%, via kicking folks off of well being care. There is a bar- there may be a- there may be a- there is a barbaric nature to this ask and this request, in particular once we’re gazing how the Trump you know- the Trump management, they’ve the White Area, the Area and the Senate. They are able to get this deal carried out via simply easily creating a telephone name, however they are permitting this ache to exist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However Democrats even have a promise from the Republican chief within the Senate that he’s going to speak about well being care in the event that they reopen the federal government. Why is not that excellent sufficient? Would you inform your contributors of the Democratic Birthday celebration to- to alleviate the ache within the speedy time period out of your state?
GOV. MOORE: I might inform them that we wish to be sure that reopening the federal government does now not imply kicking my folks off of well being care. That once we’re spending time presently 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 are serving Appalachia all all the way through now not simply Maryland, however all the way through West Virginia, all the way through Tennessee and Pennsylvania. And once we’re chatting with our people in the market who’re already gazing their premiums soar, who’re already gazing the entirety transform costlier as a result of those insurance policies, I don’t believe that anyone, whether or not in Western Maryland or any a part of my state, would say sure, it is ok, should you simply watch my well being care cross away.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, well being care costs are going up, even within the personal marketplace, for a large number of other causes. However let me ask you about what is going down in Maryland. This previous Tuesday, out in California, we noticed this Proposition 50. 64% of California electorate got here out in strengthen of what Gavin Newsom put in the market with redistricting. This could permit him to price forward with plans to doubtlessly acquire an extra 5 Democratic congressional seats. That is gerrymandering. You’re looking at midterm redistricting to your state as neatly. Of 8 districts, you simplest have one Republican. Do you actually suppose Maryland is drawn in an unfair manner presently?
GOV. WES MOORE: I feel that the rationale that I ordered the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Fee is as a result of I wish to make certain that we will be able to have a bipartisan workforce with the ability to take a look at the maps within the state of Maryland. That is one thing that occurs each and every single–
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do not suppose those maps are truthful now?
GOV. MOORE: –this is one thing that occurs each and every unmarried decade. And if different states are going to have this procedure and undergo this- undergo this adventure of figuring out whether or not or now not they’ve truthful maps in a mid-decade cycle, then so will have to Maryland. I am simply now not positive why we will have to be enjoying via a special algorithm than Texas, or than Florida, or than Ohio or a lot of these different puts.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Since you say these states are being unfair. So why undertake unfair insurance policies to your state?
GOV. MOORE: That is simply easily about ensuring that we will be able to have truthful and consultant maps and we will be able to undergo our procedure. It is the explanation why that I put in combination this fee the place my process isn’t to attract the maps, that- what we’ve got simply easily mentioned is I need this bipartisan fee so that you could if truth be told talk with the folk and so that you could undergo their procedure and simply easily say that if different states are going to head via this procedure, that we aren’t simply going to sit down on our palms as a result of Donald Trump tells us to. That is not the best way this procedure goes to paintings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your State Senate President, Democrat Invoice Ferguson says this would backfire. He wrote, ‘I consider mid cycle redistricting twist laws for attainable brief time period benefit whilst undermining accept as true with in establishments and in the end, democracy. It is too dangerous and jeopardizes your state’s skill to battle in opposition to the novel Trump management.’ How do you’re making positive it does not backfire? Do you settle for a map that will provide you with extra Republican districts? You might be now not going to do this.
GOV. MOORE: I feel combating for democracy isn’t dangerous. I feel that is our process as leaders and elected officers, and–
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you might be now not committing to going with the end result of what this Fee supplies to you?
GOV. MOORE: No, I feel the fee of what I need is for the fee to do their paintings and the fee to do their process. My process isn’t to attract the maps, and admittedly, it is a state legislature’s process to make a decision to vote on it. That isn’t my duty. My process is to make certain that I am protective the democratic procedure. And the Senate President and I, we agree at the disaster that Donald Trump has put us in. He consents on the truth that now we have watched a management that is the use of the Charter find it irresistible’s a proposal field. However what I am simply- and the place we- the place we range, is the urgency that this second calls for, the battle that this second calls for. And I for my part am any person who isn’t going to permit Donald Trump to resolve whether or not or now not Maryland follows this concept of claiming, are we going to do the entirety we will be able to to ensure we are protecting our democracy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor Moore, thanks in your time this morning.
GOV. MOORE: Thanks such a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we will be proper again with much more ‘Face the Country.’ So, stick with us.
