Talbot County Council repeals 2020 DEI resolutions, cites risk to federal funding

Talbot County Council on June 10 adopted an administrative resolution that immediately rescinds two 2020 administrative resolutions and the county92s DEI statement, after council members said a U.S. Department of Transportation letter raised legal and fiscal risks to federal funding.

Council member Stepp, who sponsored the repeal, said the Department of Transportation92s April 24, 2025 letter and related federal guidance created a funding risk for the county92s airport projects. "We now find ourselves in a position today where Talbot County has been called to the carpet. $46,800,000 worth of federally funded airport modernization dollars are at imminent risk," Stepp said during council discussion.

The resolution declares the June 23, 2020 and July 14, 2020 administrative resolutions and the DEI statement adopted Sept. 22, 2020, "of no further force and effect," effective immediately. It also removes the county manager92s prior requirement to provide an annual report describing diversity training initiatives; the manager must continue to inform the council of employee training related to compliance with applicable law.

Council member Lesher, who spoke at length during debate, said the move was intended to avoid entangling county funding from being delayed or denied because of how federal reviewers might interpret policy language. Lesher asked staff to draft a replacement "welcoming" statement for the employee handbook that would set expectations for respect and fairness in employment without language the council considered vulnerable to misinterpretation.

County legal counsel presented an opinion letter to the council during the meeting and confirmed the letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation was a factor prompting the resolution. Counsel also told the council he did not believe the DEI statement itself was discriminatory under federal law but acknowledged the DOT letter could lead to misreading of county language by grant reviewers.

The motion to adopt the administrative resolution passed by roll call: Callahan Aye; Stepp Aye; Lesher Aye; Milke Aye; Haef Nay. The resolution text states the council92s intent is not to repudiate the county92s commitment to equal employment opportunity, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or a workplace free of harassment, but to remove the administrative reporting requirement and the 2020 DEI statement as written.

The resolution directs the county manager to stop the prior annual DEI training report requirement while continuing to provide updates on legally required training. Lesher also requested staff prepare a replacement welcoming statement specifically for the employee handbook, which the council asked staff to draft.

The council introduced and adopted the resolution at the June 10 meeting by a show-of-hands introduction and subsequent roll-call vote; the resolution takes effect immediately.