Baltimore recruits laid-off federal workers at career fair

Baltimore City and Maryland state officials are helping federal workers who lost their jobs due to cuts made by the Trump administration. They held a career fair on Thursday at New Psalmist Baptist Church. The event was called “Federal to Future” and brought together over 90 public sector employers and many job seekers. The Mayor's Office of Employment Development organized the fair to support workers in transition. MOED Director MacKenzie Garvin emphasized the city's role in connecting people to job opportunities. Many city agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Human Resources, are hiring. However, Garvin did not comment on the budget for these new positions amid the city's $14.4 million deficit. Maryland's Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller also attended the fair. She talked about the state’s support for federal workers seeking new jobs. Miller highlighted efforts like hosting career fairs and creating a website that lists over 130,000 job openings. Job seekers expressed their appreciation for the fair. Caitlin Thistle, who was laid off from USAID, is looking to shift to a healthcare role. Derrick Lewis, another attendee, said most federal jobs have been affected by the cuts and values the resources provided by state officials. Both are hopeful for new opportunities.