Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Aruna Miller, along with Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu, and Acting Prince George’s County Executive, Tara Jackson, joined forces with public and private sector partners to host a job fair aimed at assisting displaced federal workers. The event provided critical resources and career guidance to those impacted by ongoing layoffs in the federal workforce.

Part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s broader initiative to support federal employees, the job fair, organized by Employ Prince George’s, the County Executive’s Office, and the Office of Human Resources Management, brought together more than 40 employers and nearly 1,000 job seekers.

A statement from Miller’s office on March 12, 2025, highlighted the impact of federal workforce reductions initiated during the Trump Administration. More than 700 former federal employees in Maryland, along with hundreds of federal contractors, have applied for unemployment benefits because of these cuts.

At the job fair, displaced workers had the opportunity to connect with human resources professionals from both public- and private-sector employers, as well as state agencies offering assistance to those affected by layoffs.

The statement further underscored the significance of federal employment in Prince George’s County, Maryland’s second-most populous county, where federal civilian jobs account for 9.5 per cent of total employment, and 15.6 per cent of wages earned by residents come from federal salaries. Continued layoffs, it warned, could have widespread economic repercussions.

“Our fear is that the arbitrary cuts and firings we have seen are just the beginning, so we are mobilizing Maryland in the face of this domestic threat and assault on the livelihoods of our hard-working citizens,” said Lt. Governor Miller voicing strong concerns about the impact of the workforce reductions. “Maryland has a wealth of assets, but our crown jewel is our people, our workforce. They should be given every opportunity to thrive, not be sidelined. They are public servants who raised their hand because they love their country. They deserve, and have earned better treatment than this.”

“Federal workers have dedicated their careers to public service, and it is our duty to provide them with the support they need at this incredibly challenging and uncertain time,” said Secretary Wu and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting affected workers. “Our state and our nation have benefited greatly from their talent, expertise, and experience, and we want to make sure they have opportunities to continue contributing, whether that is through the private sector, state or local public service, or as entrepreneurs.”

“Employ Prince George’s and our American Job Centers are being showered with calls and emails from laid-off federal workers and contractors,” said Employ Prince George’s President and CEO Walter Simmons, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “In this pivotal moment, we are providing key resources to assist them in their time of need and access to tons of employment opportunities to relaunch their careers. This is the first of many events to come.”

The statement pointed out Maryland is home to over 160,000 federal jobs, with 11 per cent of the state’s GDP directly tied to federal employment. In Prince George’s County alone, nearly one in ten jobs is a federal civilian position. As layoffs continue, state and local leaders are working to mitigate the economic fallout and ensure displaced workers have the support they need to transition into new career opportunities, it added. 

Related posts:

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller Celebrate Diwali with the South Asian Community  ‘It is a Blessing that South Asian Immigrants Have Chosen Maryland as Their New Home’ Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller Inaugurates New Biotech Lab Building 4MLK in Downtown Baltimore Rep. Suhas Subramanyam Warns of “Constitutional Crisis” Amid Mass Federal Layoffs and Treasury Takeover