Note: This press release was provided by Maryland General Assembly Joint Republican Caucus
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – House and Senate Republicans today sent a letter to the Maryland General Assembly’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC)indicating their firm opposition to the Moore Administration’s plan to continue spending taxpayer dollars on a program to rapidly hire former federal employees at a time when the Governor has announced a hiring freeze and is offering buyouts for current state employees.
The LPC is reviewing Budget Amendment No. 077-25 – Maryland Department of Budget and Management, which transfers $30,000 from the Dedicated Purpose Account to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to hire two employees to “support the expedited recruitment and hiring of former federal employees”. During the legislative session, $2 million was set aside in Governor Moore’s budget to fund HB 1424 – the Protect Our Federal Workers Act, which established the Expedited Hiring Program for hiring former federal employees. Governor Moore announced a state hiring freeze, effective July 1, except for certain positions, such as corrections and nursing staff in state hospitals.
“It was a surprise to see this budget amendment come before the LPC given Governor Moore’s recent announcements regarding the state workforce,” said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, who sits on the Legislative Policy Committee. “The Governor has announced a hiring freeze and is offering buyouts to state employees. How can we, at the same time, pursue the hiring of former federal employees, unless they are in those critical positions he’s outlined? That is unlikely. If his administration needs to essentially hire additional staff whose job it will be to hire additional staff, that contradicts any notion about government efficiency. It seems disingenuous to take from state employees with one hand while giving to former federal employees with the other.”
The information included in the amendment request suggests that this program has not been highly successful. According to the Department of Legislative Services, Maryland has hired 251 former federal employees across all agencies since February, with only 7% of these hires coming through this expedited program.
“We have a duty to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollar, particularly in these tight budget times,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey. “Our taxpayers cannot afford the unsustainable level of hiring the Moore Administration has pursued over the last three years, and they certainly cannot afford a phony hiring freeze. The Governor needs to be honest with the people of Maryland.”
what needs to happen in Annapolis, please, is an extension of time for vetos. The Governor should have until December \ January to veto stuff. The gA is not going to be in until then. Lets give the governor enough time + not have him veto stuff because he hasn’t had time to go through it\ lack of time. Whats the rush for the veto to be before December, anyway?
The voters will need to remember this at the polls next election for the Governors election. Until we get the people to change their thinking, nothing will change in this State.
Hmmm, despite a hiring freeze, this could be the perfect time to fill needed Maryland positions with knowledgeable, dedicated ex-federal employees who, through no fault of their own, were fired by Musk and his DOGE boys. A two-fer win for the future of the state and for the ex-federal employee.