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Resources for Marylanders Affected by Trump Admin Policies

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen unprecedented and illegal actions from the Trump Administration that are threatening our communities. That’s why I’m sending regular updates to constituents in my newsletter updates. If you haven’t subscribed, you can here. I’m also providing constant updates on my social media accounts which you can find here: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, and Twitter/ X. And you can share with us how the Trump/Musk Administration actions are affecting you, by visiting my website here. We’ve already heard from thousands of Marylanders, and your stories will continue to help us fight back.  

Please see below a list of resources that our team has compiled for you and your family. As a reminder, to receive updates on how I’m fighting back for you, please sign up for my newsletter.

If you need help from our constituent services team with a specific federal agency on an individual matter, please fill out this form or call my Rockville office at 301-545-1500.

Tips and Resources for Federal Workers

Know Your Rights

  1. Review Your Employment Rights Under Federal Law
  2. Reasonable Accommodation for Qualified Employees with Disability Requirements
  3. Prohibited Personnel Practices and The Right to Appeal
  4. A Guide to the Federal Civil Service Employment Law

Tips for Federal Workers 

While the actions taken by the Trump Administration are an unprecedented and a troubling assault on the federal civil service, you as a federal employee have rights and avenues for legal recourse. If you believe you are being illegally targeted, you should: 

  1. Keep a record of everything including, hard copies of performance reviews, SF-50’s, and years of service 
  2. Pursue legal advice from an attorney specializing in federal employee law or from your union
  3. File a complaint

Filing a complaint

Note: If you are in a bargaining unit, you should communicate with your union first, as it is possible that they have a different, negotiated set of grievance procedures.

1. If you are a current or former federal employee or applicant, you may have a right to file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). 

You start by filing a complaint online. OSC can seek corrective action (meaning an action that corrects what happened to the complainant), disciplinary action (meaning an action that penalizes the agency official(s) who committed the PPP), or both.

You may be eligible to file a complaint if you are not on the list of exceptions found here and have been subjected by your employer to any of the following prohibited personnel practices, which are employment activities that are prohibited in the federal workplace:

  • Discrimination (although OSC defers to EEOC on any overlapping claims)
  • Personnel recommendations taken based on connections or influence
  • Coercing political activity
  • Obstructing competition
  • Influencing withdrawal from competition
  • Granting unauthorized advantage
  • Nepotism
  • Whistleblower retaliation
  • Other retaliation
  • Violating rules that implement a merit system principle
  • Imposing nondisclosure agreements that do not allow whistleblowing
  • Accessing medical records in the furtherance of another prohibited personnel practice

2. If you are a federal employee and believe one of the personnel actions below were taken against you for reasons other than on the basis of merit, you may have the right to appeal the personnel action to the U.S Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB): 

  • Agency adverse actions: removals, suspensions of more than 14 days, reductions in grade or pay, and furloughs of 30 days or less; or
  • Other types of actions including: performance-based removals or reductions in grade, denials of within-grade salary increases, reduction-in-force actions, OPM suitability determinations, OPM employment practices, OPM determinations in retirement matters, denials of restoration or reemployment rights, terminations of probationary employees under certain circumstances, and placements or movements into excepted service positions without civil service protections.

You start by filing an appeal in writing. There are a number of steps, but in the end you can seek review of a final decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The agency has the burden of proving that it was justified in taking the action. MSPB has a Q&A here.

3. If you are a federal employee or federal job applicant and believe you have been discriminated against, you may have a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Possible grounds for filing a complaint include if you believe you were discriminated against because of your race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, pregnancy, or transgender status), national origin, age (40 and older), disability or genetic information. If you believe you have been retaliated against by opposing employment discrimination on the above grounds, filed a complaint of discrimination, or participated in the EEO complaint process (even if the complaint is not yours), you may have a right to file a complaint with the EEOC. 

More details are found on the EEOC’s website, but you start by contacting an EEOC Counselor at the agency where you work or where you applied for the job within 45 days of when the discrimination occurred.

There are a number of steps, but at the end you have the ability to appeal a decision to the EEOC or file a lawsuit in federal district court.

The information above is provided for informational purposes only. These tips are meant to give a general overview of the legal rights of federal employees as outlined by executive branch agencies tasked with protecting those rights, such as the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The information outlined on this website should not be interpreted as legal advice on any subject matter. For legal advice, speak with an attorney or if you are in a bargaining unit, refer to your union. 

Maryland Unemployment Resources

  1. Resources for Maryland’s Former Federal Employees and Other Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Transition
  2. Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance
  3. File a Claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Maryland’s BEACON Unemployment Insurance Application
    • You may also call 667-207-6520 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to speak with a Claims Agent at the Maryland Department of Labor to file an initial complaint or ask questions concerning existing unemployment insurance claims.
  4. Unemployment Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions for Federal Employees
  5. Maryland Employment Opportunities Search Engine
  6. Maryland Department of Labor Webinar: Seeking New Opportunities After Working as a Federal Employee or Contractor
  7. Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees Fact Sheet
  8. USAJOBS: Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Resources for Whistleblowers

  1. The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA): A Legal Overview
  2. Frequently Asked Questions on Whistleblower Protection
  3. Fact Sheets on Whistleblowing and Specific Agencies
  4. To Submit a Complaint: Senate Democrats Whistleblower Portal
  5. To Request a Meeting with the staff of the Ranking Member of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Whistleblower
  6. To Submit a Complaint: United States Senate Committee on the Budget

Resources from the State Government

  1. State of Maryland: Maryland Workers Impacted by Recent Federal Actions
  2. Fact Sheet from Governor Moore on What the Governor's Office is doing to Support Federal Public Servants
  3. Maryland's Unified Benefits Screener: check what support is available to you
  4. Resources for Veterans Impacted by Recent Federal Actions
  5. Maryland Department of Budget and Management: Careers with the Maryland Government for Veterans
  6. Maryland's American Job Centers: Workforce Development and Adult Learning
  7. Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC): Workforce Development and Adult Learning
  8. Maryland Department of Labor: Resources for Former Federal Employees and Contractors Seeking New Opportunities
  9. Maryland Department of Labor: Frequently Asked Questions on Supporting Workers Transitioning from Federal Employment to New Opportunities
  10. Maryland Attorney General: Information on Filing a Consumer Complaint
  11. Maryland Department of Labor: List of Upcoming Job Fairs and Recruitment Events
  12. Teach Maryland: Information on Continuing your Career in Public Service as a Maryland Educator
  13. Maryland’s Alternative Teacher Certification Pathways

Resources from lOCAL Governments

  1. Montgomery County: Resources for Federal Employees
  2. Montgomery County: Public Transportation During Return to Work Order
  3. Montgomery County: Mobilize Montgomery: An Initiative Supporting the Federal Workforce in Montgomery County
  4. Montgomery County: United in Service and Support Online Information Series for Federal Workers
  5. Prince George's County: Resources for Federal Workers
  6. Frederick County: Resources for Federal Employees
  7. Anne Arundel County: Federal Employee Assistance
  8. Baltimore County: Resources for Federal Workers
  9. Mayor of Baltimore: Support for Former Federal Employees and Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Transition
  10. Mayor of Baltimore: Office of Employment Development
  11. You can reach out to hocohelp@howardcountymd.gov for guidance on available programs in Howard County.
  12. Howard County Care Line is a free information and referral service that can provide childcare resources and parenting support. They can be reached at 410-313-2273 and children@howardcountymd.gov.

UPDATE ON FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FSA)

As of March 26, 2025, the online Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) application is available again for eligible borrowers to apply for the Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plans. In addition, the online loan consolidation application is accessible again. 

Although the IDR application is now available, loan servicers are still updating their systems in accordance with the court’s actions. In the near future, servicers will begin processing applications. 

  1. Because the IDR application was temporarily unavailable, some borrowers who were required to recertify their income and family size to determine their monthly payment amount could not do so. The Department is working to ensure that these borrowers are not penalized.
    • The Department is in the process of extending IDR anniversary dates for borrowers with recertification deadlines on or after Feb. 21, 2025.
      • For example, a borrower with an IDR anniversary date of March 19, 2025, who was due to recertify income and family size by Feb. 22, 2025, will have a new anniversary date of March 19, 2026.
  2. The Department will also be updating StudentAid.gov with the latest information for borrowers to make informed choices about their repayment options.
  3. For more information please see: The FSA's Page on IDR Plan Court Actions and its Impact on Borrowers

Additional resources

  1. Civil Service Strong: Resources for Civil Servants
  2. WSSC Water: Assistance for Eligible Customers through their Get Current 2.0 Program
  3. WorkSource Montgomery: Support for Federal Workers Resource Hub
  4. Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Maryland: Local Resources for Federal Agency Contractors & Employees
  5. Rockville Economic Development, Inc: Resources for Federal Government Workers and Contractors
  6. Work for America Civic Match: Connects Public Sector Talent with Local Governments
  7. University of Maryland: April 16th Maryland State & Local Government Career Fair

Resources for LGBTQ+ Families

  1. Maryland Office of the Attorney General Resource Guide for LGBTQIA+ Community
  2. Maryland Department of Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Health
  3. Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families: Resource List for Maryland Veterans Impacted by the Transgender Service Member Ban

Resources for Immigrant Families

  1. Maryland Attorney General's Guide for Students, Families, and Local Education Agencies on Immigration Enforcement Actions at Maryland Schools
  2. List of Accredited U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: go to page 70 for specific Maryland resources