Senator Questions Moore Administration’s Unrestricted Hiring While Facing A Growing Deficit

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Yesterday, during a hearing in the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee with Maryland Department of Budget & Management Secretary Helene Grady, Senator J.B. Jennings (Baltimore & Harford) questioned the Moore Administration’s expansion and management of the state workforce and its associated costs when facing a $2.8 billion budget deficit. In her statements to the committee, the Secretary shared that each agency determines its own hiring practices, leaving the door open to add more than 5,000 new employees.

“When you are in a hole, you need to stop digging, “said Senator J.B. Jennings. “The Moore Administration needs to stop adding new positions, enact an immediate hiring freeze and eliminate all unfilled positions, except in the areas of public safety and first responders. Without a strong directive from the top, Maryland’s bureaucracy will continue to spend the maximum amount allocated to them, deepening our structural deficit.  This is a proactive measure to protect our current employees from future furloughs and downsizing.”

With the exception of public safety and first responder roles, Senator Jennings advocated for a hiring freeze and eliminating unfilled, salaried positions. Even if a position is unfilled, it must be funded as part of the budget and counts towards overall employee costs. According to the Department of Legislative Services, this would save the state $85.2 million in the FY26 Budget.

“Senator Jennings offers a commonsense and reasonable solution to save Maryland nearly $90 million,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey. “Under this plan, no one loses their jobs, and we halt the irresponsible growth of state government. Marylanders are being asked to do more with less every day, the least State government can do is be more responsible with its spending.”