Howard County to expand resources for federal workers, contractors impacted by layoffs
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is expected to provide updated resources and initiatives Tuesday morning for federal workers and contractors impacted by layoffs and funding cuts.
The additional resources come as the Trump administration continues its effort to make the government more efficient and to reduce federal spending. The most recent round of layoffs targeted hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is headquartered in Maryland.
Ball initially expanded support and resources for impacted workers in early February, after the Trump administration initiated a buyout offer, giving employees eight months of pay and benefits if they decided to resign by Feb. 6.
The county executive said the impact of the buyouts would be felt beyond county lines.
"It'll impact our tax base, or if going to work five days a week, we're gonna have to figure out childcare, we're going to have to talk about congestion on the roads," Ball said.
According to Ball, about 50,000 federal workers who live in Howard County were eligible for the buyout offer.
Expanded Howard County resources
In early February, Ball expanded resources related to job search assistance and childcare.
Many of the resources are being offered through the county's Office of Workforce Development (OWD). The office also offers extended hours for federal workers looking for career counseling, resume help and guidance on leveraging LinkedIn and other social media platforms for job searching.
According to Ball, federal workers who apply for job openings in the Howard County government will have their applications expedited.
Ball also said some before- and after-care programs for children were being reviewed to make them more accessible for families of federal workers.
As part of the expanded resources, families of federal workers in need of food assistance are able to get pre-bagged staples from the county's food bank for up to three months.
The county's Department of Housing and Community Development also expanded eligibility for households to receive foreclosure prevention assistance.
All federal workers in Howard County are encouraged to email hocohelp@howardcountymd.gov if they have any questions.
Resources for federal workers in Maryland
Last week, Gov. Wes Moore announced several actions and additional resources for impacted federal workers as the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, continued cuts and layoffs.
According to the governor, there are an estimated 160,000 federal civilian employees in Maryland, making up about 6% of jobs in the state. Nearly 225,000 jobs in Maryland were supported by federal funding contracts in 2023.
The governor directed some state agencies to improve their hiring processes to support the influx of federal workers searching for work.
The state Department of Transportation (MDOT) was ordered to pilot a program with a webinar and guidebook to help public servants learn how the agency operates and what jobs may be available.
Maryland's Department of Budget Management (DBM) was directed to improve its process to manage a potential influx of applicants within 45 days. The department oversees hiring for most state jobs.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) were both directed to work together to help impacted federal workers transition to careers in teaching.