Maryland Faces Policy Shifts as ICE Tactics Questioned, Federal Worker Hiring Stalls, and Nonprofit Leadership Changes

Maryland lawmakers and advocates confronted the interim director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Baltimore field office last week, questioning agents' tactics for targeting and detaining immigrants and urging resistance to the Trump administration's enforcement crackdown. This public challenge at the state's premier policymaking gathering underscores growing concerns about immigration enforcement methods and their impact on communities.

Meanwhile, Governor Wes Moore's efforts to recruit laid-off federal workers faced obstacles due to the state's harsh budget realities. Despite initial plans to fast-track hiring of displaced civil servants, financial constraints have limited the state's ability to absorb federal workforce reductions, highlighting the complex interplay between federal policy changes and state fiscal capacity.

In a significant leadership transition, the Abell Foundation has selected Fagan Harris, Governor Moore's chief of staff, as its new president. Harris, who becomes just the second head of the Baltimore-based foundation with more than $300 million in assets, succeeds Bob Embry who led the organization since 1987. The generational shift at one of Baltimore's most influential nonprofit organizations comes as the governor enters the final year of his term with a 2026 reelection campaign approaching. More information about the foundation's work can be found at https://www.abell.org.

Developers of a controversial power line project have requested U.S. Marshals protection for survey crews in Maryland, citing threats of violence from property owners. PSEG Renewable Transmission filed a motion in U.S. District Court seeking federal protection after crews were allegedly threatened while attempting to access private land in Carroll County, raising concerns about infrastructure project safety and community relations.

Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined two additional multistate lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging proposed caps on administrative costs for renewable energy projects and restrictions on federal grants for crime victims. These legal actions reflect Maryland's continued opposition to federal policy changes affecting energy development and victim services.

Republican representatives, including Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, are considering including community project funding in the next government spending bill, potentially bringing over $300 million to local developments across Maryland. This represents a shift in Republican stance toward earmarks, which could help avoid passage of larger, higher-funded omnibus packages.

Maryland has joined more than half of U.S. states in legalizing water cremation, an alternative to traditional burial methods. The process, which uses water and chemicals to dissolve human remains, offers an environmentally friendly option for final disposition, with facilities already operating in West Baltimore.

The state also mourns the passing of Jules Witcover, the venerated political reporter known for his extensive connections and syndicated columns with Baltimore Sun colleague Jack Germond. Witcover, who wrote more than a dozen books on politics including the definitive chronicle of the 1976 presidential campaign, died at age 98, leaving behind a legacy of political journalism that spanned generations.