By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
State Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Md.-24) and State Sen. Nick Charles (D-Md.-25) are pushing legislation to help federal workers laid off by the 47th president’s initiative to cut “wasteful” federal spending.
Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
The bill has been cross-filed in both chambers. Lewis is leading the House version, while Charles sponsored the Senate version. Cross-filing can speed up the legislative process.
“Senate Bill (SB) 683 builds upon the federal government employee assistance loan fund by extending support beyond government shutdowns to include financial hardships caused by federal agency closures or mass layoffs by making these adjustments,” said Charles on March 6. “What this bill ensures is that Maryland residents who have dedicated their careers to federal services are not left without financial support during unforeseen circumstances.”
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee heard the bill on March 6. The House version of the bill was heard on Feb. 25. The House version is on the third reader.
The Protect Our Federal Workers Act, SB0683, would allow laid-off workers to apply for financial resources.
During a floor debate regarding the House version of the bill, State Del. Jason Buckel (R-Md.-1B) proposed an amendment to the bill. that would “remove the powers granted to the attorney general under this bill to bring lawsuits against the federal government on behalf of private individuals who lost their job.”
“The amendment very simply says save your $1.5 million and let these folks, particularly those that have a legitimate cause of action, let them go get legitimate lawyers,” said Buckel on March 5. “There are tons of them that will be happy to take this case.”
Lewis argued that the amendment would weaken Maryland’s ability to protect laid-off workers.
“This amendment says that Maryland’s going to fight with our arms behind our back,” said Lewis.
Buckel’s amendment was rejected by a 39-97 vote.
On March 4, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-7), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) in Congress. The resolution seeks to investigate mass layoffs under the Trump-Musk administration.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are destroying this country and unfortunately the Republican majority in Congress has been sitting by idly while they do it,” said Mfume in a statement. “Our constitutional duty is to provide oversight of the executive branch and this resolution of inquiry is part of that work.”
The ROI would require the administration to provide documents, communications and information about federal layoffs and its coordination with Elon Musk and the Department of General Efficiency.
The committee has 14 legislative days to act on and report the resolution to the House. If not, the resolution becomes privileged on the House floor.
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