Uncertain Future
Southern Maryland Affected By Federal Workforce Cuts
Late one evening in February, Lauren opened her email to find a termination letter from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The letter, a standard template, cited performance issues as justification for her dismissal. But for Lauren, a probationary employee who had dedicated significant time and effort to her role, the explanation rang hollow. A week later, she was still grappling with uncertainty, considering an appeal to fight for her job.
Lauren, a resident of St. Mary’s County with years of experience in agriculture and environmental work, isn’t alone in her predicament. Her termination is part of a broader federal workforce reduction initiative spearheaded by the Trump Administration’s push for government efficiency. Leading the charge is billionaire Elon Musk, who was appointed Senior Advisor and placed in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His tenure is temporary, with DOGE set to dissolve in July 2026, but until then, Musk is overseeing personnel cuts across government agencies.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal employment expenditures reached $271 billion in 2022, covering 2.3 million employees. Roughly 60% of that spending supported the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. Musk’s objective is to rein in these costs, but the effects of such sweeping reductions are being felt far beyond Washington, D.C.—they’re hitting local communities, like ours, hard.
Lauren’s passion for environmental conservation began in high school, where she participated in Envirothon, North America’s largest high school environmental competition. Her interest in sustainable farming led to positions with various agriculture-focused government agencies in Southern Maryland. As part of her current role, she worked closely with local farmers, hunters, and landowners, providing assistance with fencing projects, pasture rotation, pollinator gardens, wildlife habitats, among other priorities. Her department also facilitated cost-sharing programs for larger environmental projects—programs now at risk due to funding cuts.
After the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022, funding for these initiatives doubled, leading to a surge in applications for assistance. But with recent budget reductions, farmers with active contracts have been advised to halt their projects. Those who already invested resources in federally backed improvements may not see reimbursement. The ripple effects are poised to be widespread, yet Lauren’s most immediate concern is personal: if she appeals her termination, she faces legal fees and an uncertain future. How does one fight the federal government and stay financially afloat at the same time?
Lauren is not the only one facing distress. A few days later I talked to Shelly, a resident of Charles County, who shared her own concerns. Her son and daughter-in-law, both federal employees stationed in Ghana with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), are also caught in the crosshairs of the cuts. Shelly’s daughter-in-law focuses on reducing premature mortality rates among women and children in Ghana and is currently pregnant with Shelly’s second grandchild. The family had been counting on job-related medical benefits to ensure a safe delivery. Now, with USAID personnel ordered to withdraw within 30 days, her access to necessary care is uncertain.
Flight restrictions limiting travel during pregnancy, combined with the unknowns around USAID funding, has created a tense situation. “They’re entire life is there,” Shelly said, referencing the newborn essentials already stockpiled in addition to general life affects–clothes, furniture, a car. All of which would take weeks to ship back to the States. That’s time they don’t have.
Adding to the anxiety, the Associated Press reported “U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper decided on Thursday [Feb. 19] he could not grant a motion from unions representing the [federal] workers to temporarily block the layoffs.” The union’s case was an employment dispute to be settled through other avenues, Judge Cooper ruled. That decision, Shelly said, is concerning. Her daughter-in-law’s previously granted medical benefits, including a flight to appropriate facilities, have been retroactively denied by the State Department because of USAID officers being forced to withdraw from their posts.
Faced with losing both incomes, Shelly said her son’s family is working to make what plans they can. It’s just three weeks until her pregnant daughter-in-law can no longer board a flight, so time is running out. If they’re forced to move home, they’ll have to move in with Shelly. She’s already considering how to make room for a family of four in the house she and her husband share. They’re looking at buying baby products again in case items shipped back from Ghana don’t arrive in time.
The impact of these workforce reductions is also being felt at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River), where Robert, a 25-year St. Mary’s resident, has built his career. Robert told me he’s always received excellent performance evaluations, and felt like he had job security. His department, which started with 9, has been whittled down to 2 people over the years. Despite the need to do more with less, support for the mission has never waivered. “Throughout my time at NAVAIR, the mission to support the warfighter has been front and center for myself, and my colleagues,” he shared. “We’ve always believed in the one team, one fight ethos.”
The stakes are high in St. Mary’s County, where the federal government is a pillar of the economy. With more than 144,000 federal employees in Maryland—75,000 of whom are in Congressional District 05, covering St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, and parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties—the impact of these reductions could be substantial. At NAS Pax River alone, nearly 12,000 federal employees work alongside thousands of government contractors, accounting for almost a third of the county’s labor force. The region’s low unemployment rate—2.5%, compared to the national average of 4%—is largely due to federal employment, making the cuts a potential economic shock.
There’s no shortage of things to do on a farm, which is where Robert lives with his wife and kids, and finding a work life balance has been challenging. Robert has worked late into evenings, and on weekends, missing time with his family to ensure the job gets done. That means, sometimes, not being able to help with his kid’s homework and relying on his spouse–a familiar dynamic for so many. Decisions made by the Trump Administration are causing chaos right here at home. Despite all this, Robert’s strong work ethic shapes the pride he and his coworkers share in supporting “our sailors and marines,” he said.
County Commissioner Eric Colvin said on February 25 “blanket firing of probationary workers” isn’t the right way to go about things. The commissioner hoped for more thought and strategy as the federal government continued the process. The same day, Commissioner Ostrow said he’d spoken to “leadership on the base, and no RIFs have taken place yet.” RIFs, or “reductions in force,” are governed by a regulation within the Department of Defense requiring a study to assess adverse impacts prior to making a decision. Noting the base is in his district, Ostrow attempted to steer people away from panic and encouraged people not to believe rumors without verifying the information.
Still, a February 26 memo from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management entitled “Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested” by President Trump’s Executive Orders offered direction to the heads of executive departments and agencies across the government on implementing workforce reductions.
Accomplished through “Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans,” or ARRPs, each agency must submit an ARRP with intent to achieve “better service and increased productivity” with “a significant reduction of full-time positions, a reduced real property footprint, and reduced budget topline” across two phases. Phase 1 and 2 ARRPs are due by March 13th and April 14th, respectively, with Phase 2 implementation to occur by September 30th. Data calls for information related to these memos rippled through NAS Pax River this week.
As all of this unfolds, Lauren, Shelly, and Robert are each coming to terms with what it means for them. Actions taken toward appealing Lauren’s dismissal will likely be affected by any “new” interpretations resulting from the OMB and OPM issued memorandum. The medical transport needed for Shelly’s pregnant daughter-in-law was canceled, a decision they must now also appeal. Robert remains employed, but is gripped with anxiety–like so many others–about what comes next.
The process plays out through implementation guidance that changes daily alongside court rulings on the legality of the terminations. Meanwhile, everyone affected is left to make plans in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
