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Committee recommends expedited bill to give hiring preference to displaced federal workers
Summary
The Government Operations committee unanimously recommended Bill 10‑25 to the full Montgomery County Council. The bill would add a new hiring‑preference category for county jobs for residents who were actually separated from federal employment after Jan. 1, 2025; staff clarified definitions, removed an income‑loss proof requirement and set a July 2, 2027 sunset in amendments.
The Government Operations & Fiscal Policy Committee voted unanimously to recommend expedited Bill 10‑25 to the full Montgomery County Council after adopting several amendments that narrow its scope and ease administration.
Council Vice President Shawando, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure "creates a definition of a displaced federal worker" and will allow the county to offer an expedited intake and screening process for qualified applicants. "We want to send a loud and clear message to our federal workers who have been let go and their families ... that we value your service," Shawando said.
Staff described the bill as an addition to the county's existing merit‑system preference order. As originally drafted, the bill would have added "displaced federal workers" to the equal‑preference list and required applicants to show a loss of federal income; committee amendments remove the income‑loss requirement and place displaced federal workers in a distinct preference tier below veterans and people with disabilities. The committee also accepted an amendment setting a date‑certain sunset of July 2, 2027.
Deputy Director Lalita Weeding of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) said that OHR supports the intent and has been seeing increased federal applicants: "OHR alone has not only interviewed but hired four federal employees over the past couple of months." OHR and the Office of Management and Budget told the committee the package of amendments lowers the estimated fiscal impact from about $312,000 annually to roughly $125,000 and reduces the expected hiring‑timeline delay from three-to-four weeks to approximately five-to‑15 working days.
Committee members pressed staff on eligibility rules. Staff said the preference applies only to former federal civil servants who have an actual separation document; a notice alone or a separation that is stayed by a court would not qualify an applicant. Residency verification (for applicants who moved into the county after separation) and other operational details will be defined in the Method‑1 personnel regulations that OHR and the executive branch must file with the council within 60 days of the expedited effective date.
Chair President Schurf called a hand vote to recommend the bill to full council; the vote was recorded as unanimous. The chair said the committee will forward the amended bill and asked staff to continue work with OHR and OMB on implementation details and any supplemental appropriation requests.
The committee did not take a final legislative vote to adopt the bill; it recommended the amended measure to the full council for consideration.
