Maryland Gov. Moore announces new cost-cutting measures

MARYLAND – Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently announced a state hiring freeze, featuring volunteer employee buyouts and the elimination of vacant jobs.

The cost reductions are expected to save Maryland $121 million for the fiscal year 2026.

According to various media reports, state employees found out about the hiring freeze and buyouts in a memo sent out Tuesday.

The hiring freeze reportedly would apply to all executive branch agencies, excluding the university system, other higher education institutions and the legislative and judicial branches.

It’s expected to last through the full fiscal year.

Meanwhile – how many vacant state positions will be eliminated is yet to be answered.

President & CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Bill Chambers shared his thoughts with us.

“I think these are efforts to head off potential additional deficits moving into the next fiscal year,” said Chambers. “Thankfully, public safety employees and healthcare employees are exempted from the freezes as well as the potential furloughs and I think that’s what most people would be concerned about is their healthcare and their public safety.”

The buyout program is still being worked on and will be determined in the next several weeks.

Chambers said while these cuts will most likely not impact the average Eastern Shore resident, they’re not in the clear yet.

“If you’re a citizen or a business, you’ll likely not feel any direct impact by the move from the Moore Administration, but what we have to hope for is we’re not facing additional fees and taxes to close new budget gaps when we move into 2026,” he said.

Maryland’s fiscal year 2026 budget includes about 1.8 billion in tax and fee increases.

It also includes the largest amount of cuts to state spending in 18 years.

Maryland’s fiscal year 2026 begins on July 1st.