LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County commissioners expressed frustration Tuesday over the ongoing federal government shutdown, emphasizing its economic toll on local families and businesses while urging residents to contact their U.S. senators.
County commissioners criticized the federal impasse and voiced support for sending a formal letter to lawmakers Thursday, calling for a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
Commissioner Eric Colvin introduced a motion to send the letter to Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The drafted letter urged bipartisan cooperation and warned of mounting local consequences as the shutdown entered one of the longest in U.S. history.
“We are asking you to overcome the politics of the day and cross party lines to reopen our government,” Colvin said. “The impacts of the shutdown are far reaching and not fully known yet, but families are being impacted.”
The letter passed with all present commissioners. Commissioner Mike Hewitt was not present. President Randy Guy said the move was symbolic but important.
“I look forward to signing the letter myself,” Guy said. “I hope somebody is hearing this, maybe the senators are listening to us. I hope you are.”
Commissioner Scott Ostrow said the shutdown’s ripple effects were already visible across the county. He encouraged residents to support local businesses that rely on customers from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where many civilian workers face furloughs or delayed pay.
“If you can, get out there and support our local restaurants and businesses as much as we can,” Ostrow said. “Because we all have to help each other through this complete failure of our government.”
Commissioner Mike Alderson shared his perspective as a federal employee required to work without pay. He expressed that it was still his privilege to serve each day. He criticized political gridlock and urged residents to focus on civic understanding rather than partisan blame.
“There’s enough blame to go around to everybody,” Alderson said. “People need to know the civics and how things operate between the three branches, and how many votes are needed for a CR. I’m looking forward to getting on the other side of this.”
The commissioners agreed the shutdown’s economic and emotional strain could grow if prolonged, particularly for federal workers, contractors and local service industries.
“We here in our government are responsible to put a budget together every year and pass it and move on,” Guy said. “That’s what you have to do.”
Five Fast Facts About The Government Shutdown
- The federal government entered shutdown on Oct. 1, 2025, after Congress failed to approve continuing appropriations or a temporary funding resolution.
- By Oct. 22, 2025, the Senate had not advanced a bill to end the shutdown because the 60-vote threshold was not met.
- The shutdown is among the longest in U.S. history (currently at 23 days).
- Hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed or working without pay, and vital research and health agency functions were significantly curtailed.
- The shutdown has directly impacted federal programs and state budgets.
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Try starting with Sen. VanHoller and Sen. Alsocrooks, that (apparently) most Marylanders voted for and are now denying their constituents paychecks by towing the Demoncratic mandate of “Hate Trump”!
Your representation at work!
I wonder if Alsobrooks ever paid her taxes on the property she rents out in DC?
Speaker Johnson will continue the shutdown so he doesn’t have to swear in Arizona’s newly- elected Representative, Adelita Grijalava, and then have to deal with a vote to release the Epstein files. It’s all about protecting Trump and to heck with the country.
Wishing I had read your post before I posted about the same. Thank you for being a sane human who reads the baynet and not an ultra maga who loves trump’s hole…. in the White House
Blame the democrats, it’s their doing
The republicans control the house the senate the White House and the Supreme Court. Last I checked speaker Johnson was still refusing to bring back the house. So keep blaming democrats that want to actually help this country. You might want to take 5 min out the right wing news bubble to see what’s really happening in this country.
“If you can, get out there and support our local restaurants and businesses as much as we can,” Ostrow said. “Because we all have to help each other through this complete failure of our government.”
The commissioners want other people who are being effected by the democrats refusal to open the government, to go out and spend money at businesses who are being effected? Where’s the logic in this?
Republicans control the House, Senate, and the now being demolished White House. They also voted to raise health insurance premiums and cut Medicare. So, write to Speaker Johnson and John Thune. It’s their shut down, not the Democrats.
In the meantime… we can go ahead with construction projects NOBODY approved of, wanted or especially needed, the no balls room will be finish long after the orange tryin to be dictator is dead and gone…
They’re going to vote on opening the Epstein files, Mike Johnson won’t allow the swearing in of AZ Rep elect Adelita Grijalva who will be the 218th signer to discharge the petition to bring up the bill, that’s what this shutdown is all about. What is trump hiding???
Why isn’t thebaynet posting all comments? Do they not believe in 1A?