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Sen. Chris Van Hollen briefs Frederick delegation on Reagan crash probe, ransomware and US‑15 funding
Summary
Sen. Chris Van Hollen updated the Frederick County delegation on the NTSB probe of the Reagan National collision, ongoing assistance after a ransomware attack at Frederick Health, federal infrastructure and broadband funds, and concerns about proposed federal personnel rules.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen told the Frederick County delegation on Friday that federal offices are working with local leaders on several issues of local and regional concern, including the National Transportation Safety Board probe of the Jan. 2025 collision at Reagan National Airport, assistance to Frederick Health after a ransomware attack, and federal funding for US 15 and broadband projects.
Van Hollen said investigators must determine cause and that the National Transportation Safety Board should be “quickly and transparently” finding out “exactly what went wrong.” He added, “This was clearly an avoidable crash,” and said he and other lawmakers had raised concerns about congestion at Reagan National in prior debates over slot increases.
The senator said his office has been in touch with Frederick Health Hospital after the ransomware incident and that federal staff stand ready to assist. He also described a recent temporary freeze from the Office of Management and Budget on federal grants that briefly affected local providers and community services; he said lawsuits and public pressure appeared to have halted the freeze but that his office was still clarifying the status.
On infrastructure, Van Hollen noted that the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law sent Maryland about $5–7 billion over five years for roads, bridges and airports and that the governor has proposed restoring $140 million for the US 15 safety improvement project. “I was pleased when the governor announced that they were gonna restore the $140,000,000 for the US 15 project,” he said, noting $7.4 million is allocated in the current budget cycle to continue planning and design.
Van Hollen also highlighted federal broadband funding, saying roughly $267 million has come to Maryland from federal programs and that closing remaining coverage gaps in Frederick County remains a priority. He mentioned the Piedmont Reliability Project and ongoing oversight of utilities including PSEG, adding he and other members have urged robust public input to reduce local impacts from transmission and generation projects.
The senator warned federal employees in the county about “Schedule F,” a proposal that would reclassify large numbers of career civil service positions as political appointments; he said the proposal has raised concerns about job security among federal workers in Frederick and across Maryland.
The delegation thanked Van Hollen for the update and said they would continue coordination on constituent services and priority projects. The senator said his regional director for Western Maryland recently changed from Nan Mann to Robin Summerfield and that his office is working with other federal and state representatives on local priorities.
