ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland officials are launching new efforts to assist federal workers affected by layoffs and funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration. Governor Wes Moore on Friday announced a series of state initiatives aimed at helping displaced employees transition to new careers.
“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.,” Moore said during a press conference.
Joined by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and other state officials, Moore outlined a plan that includes expanding state job search resources, launching virtual information sessions for public sector employment, and partnering with local governments to organize job fairs. The state has also updated its Maryland Public Servants Resource Website to connect displaced workers with benefits and new employment opportunities.
The administration’s response follows the Trump-Musk administration’s workforce reductions, which have led to widespread job losses in Maryland, home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of federal employees. “Marylanders are in pain,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna K. Miller. “These are mothers, fathers, and hard-working Marylanders losing their jobs and having their livelihood swept out from under them.”
Van Hollen called the cuts an “illegal purge” and accused the administration of undermining federal services. “This is not about efficiency, this is about rigging the government for the already rich and powerful like Elon Musk,” he said.
Former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency employee Jonathan Hairston, who lost his job, said Moore’s leadership offers hope to those affected. “We appreciate his commitment to ensuring that all employees, especially veterans and career professionals, are treated with the dignity they deserve,” Hairston said.
Maryland officials vowed to continue efforts to mitigate the impact of the cuts while pushing for a reversal at the federal level.