Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to offer buyouts, implement hiring freeze for state employees

Carson Swick and Hannah Gaskill, The Baltimore Sun on Jun 24, 2025

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BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will offer a voluntary buyout program and implement a hiring freeze for state employees, according to an internal letter from the governor obtained by The Baltimore Sun Tuesday.

In the letter, Moore said the passage of his fiscal year 2026 budget will require the executive branch to make “$121 million in General Fund personnel cost reductions.” To make these cuts, Moore said he will launch a “Voluntary Separation Program” for state employees, assess opportunities to eliminate vacant positions and implement a hiring freeze as of July 1.

“Our action positions Maryland to more effectively navigate the extreme uncertainty caused by federal actions,” the letter reads.

Republican lawmakers criticized the decision in a series of statements, noting Moore is now calling for the elimination of vacant positions — a plan state Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Republican who represents Baltimore and Harford counties, called for earlier this year.

“Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you’re in a hole, you need to stop digging,” Jennings said. “The decision to finally enact a hiring freeze and reduce vacant positions is the right one — but it should have happened months ago, before the situation became more urgent.”

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