Federal Workers

I am proud to represent over 46,000 federal workers in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District. Over the past few months, the Trump administration has issued extreme executive orders and House Republicans have passed an irresponsible rescissions package that directly impacts these civil servants. My team and I are working tirelessly to understand what these executive orders mean for my constituents. Early estimates show that over 4,000 federal workers have already been fired or pushed out of their positions in our district. This is unconscionable and a disgrace to the good people of Maryland’s Fourth.

The attack on federal employees began just days into the second Trump administration. The unlawful termination of probationary employees, excessive reductions in force (RIFs), attacks on collective bargaining agreements, and reclassification of civil servants under Schedule F are misguided and reckless. In July, the Supreme Court issued an opinion granting the Trump administration legal clearance to move forward with mass RIFs and federal organization plans. Unfortunately, this means that the tens of thousands of federal employees who have been fired without valid cause are left to face continued hardship and financial uncertainty.

Advocating for workers has been a cornerstone of my time in Congress. I am proud to serve as Vice-Chair of the Labor Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators dedicated to promoting workers’ rights and the labor movement. In this caucus, when I advocate for fair wages and tax policies, equitable benefits, safe working conditions, and the right of workers to organize at every opportunity, the federal workforce is always on my mind. I am a fierce cosponsor of H.R. 492, the Saving the Civil Service Act; H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act; and a series of other legislative initiatives because federal employees are the backbone of our country and our district. 

If you or someone you know has been personally impacted by these misguided and dangerous decisions from the Trump administration, please visit my “Resources for Marylanders Affected by Trump Administration Policies” page. As I have every day since January 20th, I will continue to support every effort to push back against the attack on federal workers—both in Congress and in the courts.

Relevant Legislation

I am proud to have either sponsored or co-sponsored the following legislation, and I will work tirelessly towards passing this legislation in the 119th Congress. 

H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act, proposes incrementally increasing the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour by 2030.

H.R. 493, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, restores years of lost wage increases for federal employees.

H.R. 492, the Saving the Civil Service Act, pushes back against President Trump’s mass reductions in force and reclassification of federal workers under Schedule F.

H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act, seeks to safeguard the benefits promised to federal workers.

H.R. 2880, to provide employment protections for, and reinstatement of, certain probationary Federal career employees, and for other purposes.

H.R. 1989, Protect Our Probationary Employees Act, reverses the Trump administration’s indiscriminate and unilateral mass firings of probationary federal employees. 

Community Engagement and Public Education

Amid federal workforce turmoil, I have focused on community-building initiatives to ensure my constituents have the stability and job security they need to succeed. This includes hosting a:

• Spring Job Fair alongside Prince George’s County Parks and Planning and Prince George’s County Councilmember At-Large Jolene Ivey.
• Town Hall during the March recess, to hear firsthand how this administration’s reckless actions have upended the lives of thousands of working people.
• Resource Fair for Affected Federal Employees in March to connect federal employees impacted by recent policy changes with essential information and support services.
• Tele-town Hall to discuss the implications of Schedule F on the civil service and to offer guidance and support to affected federal workers.

Federal workers need support right now, and I am committed to fighting for them in Congress. I will continue working with my Democratic colleagues to stop President Trump’s attack on our federal government and the workers who have dedicated their careers to civil service.