The federal government’s decision to remove demographic data tracking race and gender from its workforce records has raised concerns among Maryland lawmakers and civil rights advocates. This move has made it challenging to determine the specific impact of last year’s mass layoffs on various communities within the state.
Impact on Maryland’s Workforce
Federal civilian jobs make up about 6% of all employment in Maryland, according to Governor Wes Moore. The lack of demographic data has hindered the state’s ability to assess how these layoffs have affected specific groups, particularly women and people of color. As of September 2024, 46% of federal workers nationwide were women, and 41% were people of color, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Delegate Denise Roberts from Prince George’s County criticized the federal government’s actions, stating, “They don’t want us to know, and that’s an abomination.” Prince George’s County, where 62% of the population is Black, is particularly concerned about the layoffs’ impact on its residents.
Federal Policy Changes
The OPM, responsible for overseeing federal civil service, removed both current and historical data on diversity indicators in March 2025. This decision aligns with the administration’s campaign to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which they describe as “wasteful programs and policies promoting divisive DEI and gender ideology.”
Sarah Javaid, a senior research analyst at the National Women’s Law Center, highlighted the vulnerability of federal workers from protected groups, stating, “It’s women and people of color, particularly a lot of Black women, who are being pushed out of the federal workforce.”
Local Concerns
Maryland’s Department of Labor does not record its own demographic information, further complicating efforts to track the layoffs’ impact. Javaid noted that the federal workforce offers more opportunities for promotion and pay raises than most private sector jobs, making the layoffs particularly detrimental to women.
Roberts emphasized the real-life consequences of these layoffs, saying, “These [layoffs] affect real people, real lives, people who have mortgages, people who have to pay the rent, people who have children. What are they supposed to do now?”
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
