Overview

• The hiring freeze, effective July 1, will allow exceptions for law enforcement, juvenile justice, corrections staff and other priority positions that sustain round-the-clock operations.
• State agencies will eliminate roughly 150 pending and vacant posts, including about six positions in the governor’s office to save nearly $1 million.
• Voluntary buyout offers are under negotiation with public employee unions to incentivize retirements and further reduce headcounts.
• Governor Moore’s administration projects these steps will yield $121 million in savings toward fiscal year 2026.
• Maryland’s budget gap has widened to $3.3 billion, underscoring the need for targeted staffing cuts that have won backing from Senate President Bill Ferguson.