Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth touts local earmarks, warns of ICE 'weaponization' and urges congressional action on Iran

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth used a visit to the Howard County delegation to highlight federal funding she is pursuing for the county and to press for congressional and legal limits on immigration enforcement and the use of force abroad. "Please reach out to Eva with any constituent concerns whatsoever," she told delegates as she outlined casework and local investments.

Elfreth framed her remarks around "the bad" and "the good." On federal personnel policy she said recent White House plans risk turning civil service roles into political appointments, calling Project 2025 an effort to "recreate a spoil system that we got rid of in this country in 1883." She warned that changes in federal hiring and management threaten capacity in scientific and civilian roles.

She also criticized what she called the "weaponization of ICE," thanking local officials who responded quickly to a proposed detention facility in Elkridge and describing House Democrats' strategy of withholding votes on DHS funding to press for guardrails. "We're seeking right now" a package of provisions — including measures such as requiring body cameras and protecting sensitive places, she said — to be written into law through the budget process rather than left to internal regulation.

On foreign policy, Elfreth said she voted for a recent House war-powers resolution that fell a few votes short and expressed concern about the lack of clear objectives and an exit strategy in U.S. operations related to Iran. "I am not convinced that the president has any clear objectives, any exit strategy," she said, adding that privileged resolutions and discharge petitions are tools Democrats are using to press the issue.

Elfreth also described local wins and active casework: her office resolved about 1,000 constituent cases by the end of last year and was handling roughly 1,300 cases at the time of the meeting, on issues ranging from veterans' appointments to immigration. She listed earmarks and federal funding identified for Howard County projects, including $1.25 million for energy resilience and public-safety improvements at an Elkridge senior center, $2 million for Guilford Road pedestrian and bicycle improvements, $2 million for an affordable "artist flats" housing project, $500,000 for MD 99 pedestrian connectivity, about $1 million for Shepherd Pratt staff training, and just over $1 million for a STEM program with CAPA. She said next year’s earmark submissions were due Friday.

Delegation members asked follow-up questions on oversight and accountability, including Pentagon spending and the administration's handling of contracts. Elfreth said investigations and committee hearings — and, if Democrats regain committee gavels, subpoenas — are the primary mechanisms for holding executives and contractors to account.

Elfreth offered to follow up on local facility questions (such as Goddard Space Flight Center, which she said "is not closing") and closed by urging continued local engagement with federal offices.

The delegation did not take action related to Elfreth's remarks; her visit was scheduled before the meeting's remaining legislative items.