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Maryland’s Legislators Vow to Remain Strong During Incoming Trump Administration

Incoming President Donald Trump’s administration, along with Republican control of Congress, cast a pall over Friday morning’s 2024 Legislative Breakfast at the Bethesda Marriott Conference Center.

Maryland legislators strove to stay optimistic as they spoke about the challenges the state and Montgomery County face in the future.

“We know we are Maryland strong,” declared Gov. Wes Moore. He told a large and supportive crowd that his staff has been strategizing since February on various scenarios that might result following the recent presidential election.

“We as a state will continue to deliver for Maryland,” he said, adding, “We will defend our federal constitutional rights” as well as rights granted to Marylanders.

Growing the economy and restoring faith in America’s democracy are two of his administration’s goals. While Moore vowed to “seek common ground” with the incoming Trump Administration, he said, Maryland is “ready to push back” when necessary.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich echoed Moore’s comments, noting, “We’ve got to figure out a way to move forward.”

With so many federal offices and employees in Montgomery County, “Even the people we don’t like have a stake in our being successful,” Elrich said.

“I stand ready to work with anyone who wants to move the country forward,” declared U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen. He promised to “protect the integrity of the federal workforce” and fight against the replacement of merit-based civil service with “political cronies.”

Van Hollen said Maryland “won’t be complacent” if the federal government tries to remove undocumented Marylanders. “That’s not who we are.”

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin urged those in attendance “to put on your marching shoes” and work together in solidarity.

He warned the leaders of non-profits organizations in attendance that the incoming Trump administration wants to unilaterally declare some 501c organizations terrorist groups and no longer tax exempt.

On the chopping block are such programs as Title 1 and Title 9 as well as the Department of Education, Raskin said, noting, “These are fighting words to Montgomery County.”

He vowed to fight the move to make federal workers political appointees. “We are going to fight that in the House. We are going to fight that in the Senate. We are going to fight that in the courts,” he declared.

During the 36th annual breakfast that was sponsored by the Committee for Montgomery, the county’s 2025 legislative advocacy priorities were spelled out.

The county seeks to create “a thriving economy and shared prosperity to support well-paying jobs, investment in education, public safety and health and human services.”

Other aims include supporting students so they are ready for the workforce, working to mitigate climate changes, advocating for all people and supporting affordable housing and tenants’ rights.

Council President Andrew Friedson ended the breakfast stating, “There is no doubt, we are facing a true test of our values and our resiliency.” But remember, he said, “With challenges comes opportunities.”

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