Howard County’s government has expanded its resources and services for residents who are federal employees impacted by proposed changes introduced by the Trump administration, County Executive Calvin Ball announced Friday.
Resources include assistance with job searches, childcare, food, housing, and more.
Building on the Federal Workers’ Forum hosted by Ball on Tuesday, the
list includes services from Howard County and its partner agencies.
“Given our prime Washington-Baltimore metropolitan location, Howard County is home
to thousands of dedicated federal employees and federal contractors – people who
have devoted their careers to serving our nation,” Ball said at the forum. “During this
time of transition and great uncertainty, it is our duty to ensure our impacted neighbors
have the resources and support they need to thrive. Just this week, we have already
begun to take steps to expand childcare options, offer additional hours for career
counseling and resumé building, create a federal resource line to connect residents with
local support programs and assistance, and more. In the days ahead, we will continue
to work closely with our state and federal partners to coordinate resources and
information on this ever-evolving federal situation.”
Help With Hiring And Job Assistance
Howard County’s Office of Human resources has already begun to ensure that federal
employees can quickly apply for open Howard County government positions and is
expediting the application process for federal workers.
Additionally, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) is offering expanded hours for
federal workers seeking career counseling, help with resumé building, and tutorials to
leverage LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m., OWD will host an Open House. For more information, please call (410) 313-1060.
On Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., OWD will host a Federal Workers Career Fair at
Howard Community College’s Dwight A. Burrill Galleria. There will be public- and
private-sector partners, and the opportunity to have new headshots taken for free.
Childcare Assistance
The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks is actively seeking ways to
expand its childcare programs for county residents, including federal workers impacted
by the Trump administration’s proposed changes. The county already offers before- and after-care programs at 23 Howard County Public School System elementary schools.
The CARE Line is a free information and referral service is available for people with
questions about children and childcare services in Howard County. It is provided by the
Department of Community Resources and Services’ Office of Children and Families.
CARE Center staff help families identify needs and find solutions, and are available by
calling 410-313-CARE (410-313-2273) or emailing children@howardcountymd.gov.
Food Assistance
Howard County residents who have been terminated or furloughed from federal jobs can receive pre-bagged, shelf staple foods from the from the Community Action Council of Howard County’s (CAC) Food Bank for up to three months from the date of their first visit. To receive assistance, individuals will have to show proof of residency and photo federal identification.
Food insecure households can continue receiving assistance after three months by applying for full Food Bank access and other CAC services.
Housing Assistance
Residents who have recently lost federal employment may be eligible for assistance with their mortgage payment through the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development’s foreclosure prevention assistance program.
Mental Health Support
Residents who are struggling with their mental health are urged to call 988 to talk to someone.
Transportation
Howard County has partnered with Montgomery County to expand Flash Bus Rapid Transit from Downtown Columbia to Silver Spring to improve public transportation for Howard County residents and federal employees to access transit services in the Silver Spring and Washington areas. The Flash extension with Montgomery County is expected to launch in 2026.
Howard County Government Assistance
If an employee’s childcare arrangements has undergone significant changes — including county employees whose childcare may be impacted by the loss of benefits through a spouse who was employed by the federal government — Howard County Government will consider requests to change elections in flexible spending accounts (FSA).
Howard County residents who have been impacted by proposed changes to federal employment can also email hocohelp@howardcountymd.gov to ask questions or seek guidance and assistance.
State and Federal Assistance
Federal workers whose employment has been affected by the Trump administration can also review their eligibility for state and federal assistance programs, such as Unemployment Insurance, healthcare through Maryland Health Connection’s Special Enrollment, and Temporary Cash Assistance.
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), who represents Howard County, hosted the President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) for a live conversation for federal employees on her Instagram page.
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) will host a Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Details will be posted on Van Hollen’s website.
