UPDATE: Maryland Governor Wes Moore has just announced a hiring freeze along with a review of nearly 1,000 voluntary buyouts, a stark departure from his campaign promise to fill 5,000 vacant positions in state government. This significant shift is raising concerns about the state’s ability to deliver essential services and rebuild trust with residents.
The hiring freeze, implemented on June 1, 2023, affects all positions budgeted for the fiscal year 2026, including 522 new jobs created under the recent budget. This freeze comes as the Moore administration aims to save $121 million in personnel costs while maintaining employee raises. The decision has immediate implications for Maryland’s workforce, which currently has 52,246 positions budgeted, with a vacancy rate of approximately 10% as of July.
According to Moore’s spokesman, David Turner, a total of 980 state employees applied for the voluntary separation program by the August 4 deadline, with 883 remaining eligible as of August 25. The Maryland Department of Budget and Management plans to notify applicants of their acceptance into the program by mid-September. This confidential review aims to determine whether the positions are essential, potentially further shrinking the workforce.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers, have slammed Moore’s abrupt pivot from his initial plans. Senator J.B. Jennings recalled a conversation with Moore where he rejected the idea of a hiring freeze, stating, “He said no, he doesn’t want to.” The current policy has sparked backlash, especially from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents state workers.
The hiring freeze allows exemptions for critical roles in public safety, healthcare, and cybersecurity, which are deemed necessary to protect Marylanders and ensure the effective management of public resources. However, with these cuts, the administration faces mounting pressure to explain how it will fulfill its commitment to restore state government.
As Maryland grapples with a projected $3 billion structural budget deficit, the implications of these decisions are profound. The state’s ability to maintain essential services while managing its workforce is now under scrutiny.
What’s Next: All eyes will be on the outcome of the voluntary buyout applications and the impact of the hiring freeze on state services. As the Moore administration navigates these turbulent waters, the effectiveness of their strategies will be critical in rebuilding public trust and state capacity.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
