Maryland Mobilizes to Support the State’s Federal Workers

According to the Economic Policy Institute, more than 220,000 Marylanders are employed by the federal government, which makes the state among the most affected by recent mass federal firings carried out by the Trump administration.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recently announced a number of actions designed to help the state’s federal workers impacted by layoffs, firings and changes to federal funding.

“We have an obligation to protect the thousands of Marylanders whose lives have been disrupted by these arbitrary, draconian cuts and layoffs from Washington, D.C.,” said Gov. Moore, in a statement.

“Our public servants are the best of us—true patriots of the highest order who have raised their hands to give back to our communities. Maryland is mobilizing to ensure they get the support they deserve. Together, we will continue to confront crisis with courage.”

Gov. Moore signed three memorandums on Feb. 28, directing the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, and the Maryland State Department of Education “to streamline hiring processes and implement programs to support the influx of Marylanders committed to continuing their careers in public service,” according to his office.

For example, the Department of Transportation is developing a pilot Federal Worker Navigation program designed to help federal employees transition to roles at the state level.

The Department of Budget and Management is rolling out improvements intended to manage a greater number of state job applications, while the state’s Department of Education is working in concert with the Maryland Higher Education Commission in an effort to expand pathways to careers in education, according to Gov. Moore.

The administration’s additional actions to support Maryland’s federal workforce and contractors include:

• Expanding the Maryland Public Servants Resource Website, which now i​ncludes the Live Work Maryland Job Search to highlight nearly 130,000 job openings in high-demand industries, Marylan​d’s Unified Benefits Screener to guide Marylanders toward available supports, and programs to support veterans, who make up approximately 15% of all federal workers in Maryland;

• Launching a new resource page on Teach Mary​land to support federal workers interested in starting a second career with Maryland’s public schools;

• Launching the “Joining Team Maryland” virtual information session for federal workers who want to continue their public service careers through state government; and
• Partnering with county and local leaders to connect federal workers with recruitment events and job fairs in their communities.

“Marylanders are in pain. These are mothers, fathers, and hard-working Marylanders losing their jobs and having their livelihood swept out from under them,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna K. Miller, in a statement.

“They are public servants who raised their hand because they love their country, and they deserve better. Gov. Moore and I will do everything we can to deliver relief and resources to those impacted. Our state will meet this moment with resolve and unity.”