Maryland Governor Wes Moore has squarely blamed the Trump administration for the significant loss of federal jobs in the state over the past year. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Maryland has seen a reduction of 24,900 federal positions, which Moore attributes to reductions spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Given Maryland’s proximity to Washington D.C., many of its residents are employed by the federal government, making the state particularly vulnerable to these job cuts. “These are direct impacts affecting every part of our state,” Moore stated during a Board of Public Works meeting.

Amidst these challenges, Governor Moore faces criticism for his handling of the state’s finances and the rise in juvenile crime. The Baltimore Sun, in an August opinion piece, labeled Moore as “America’s most disappointing governor,” pointing to a $3.3 billion budget deficit and the $1.6 billion in tax increases he has signed into law. The state has also witnessed a 146 percent surge in juvenile crime arrests in 2024 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, over $2.3 million has been spent on state-funded renovations and repairs to the governor’s mansion since Moore took office.

Federal employment plays a crucial role in Maryland’s economy, contributing over $150 billion annually, as reported by the Maryland Comptroller’s Office. Federal workers in the state earn a collective $26.9 billion per year, with six percent of Maryland’s population employed by the federal government, accounting for ten percent of the state’s total wages. The DOGE, led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk from January to May, aimed to reduce government inefficiencies by targeting 300,000 federal job cuts nationwide.

The department was disbanded in November, eight months ahead of its scheduled end in July 2026. Critics say it delivered few measurable savings and created chaos in the federal workforce. Moore is among those critics, and his administration has been making efforts to expand private sector employment in Maryland to reduce the state economy’s reliance on the federal government. Christopher Meyer, a research analyst at the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, told the Baltimore Sun: ‘Federal layoffs of both federal employees and federal contractors mean less money and wages and salaries going into Maryland families’ pockets.

‘That means less funding at local businesses. It means less tax revenue for the state and local governments. It means that we’re going to see a hit to Maryland’s economy that could very easily have a spillover impact into private sector job losses.’ But he added that the federal government will likely always be a major pillar of Maryland’s economy and that expanding the state’s private sector and diversifying its economy, though worthwhile, will take years.

On top of the nearly 25,000 federal jobs Maryland lost in 2025, the state’s private sector employment also dropped by 4,400 in October and November. The unemployment rate ticked up fairly significantly as well, going from 3.8 percent in September to 4.2 percent in November, though that remains below the national average of 4.6 percent. The Daily Mail has approached Moore and the White House for comment.