STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SEES ‘CATASTROPHIC’ $418M LOSS AFTER TRUMP ACTION: The Maryland State Department of Education is expecting a loss of $418 million in pandemic-era relief money after the Trump administration abruptly announced Friday night that it will not be reimbursing spending originally promised by the federal government. Bri Hatch/WYPR-FM.
- Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright called the federal Department of Education’s decision “catastrophic,” nothing that the money has already been spent or at least committed to the state’s 24 school systems. She said the money is being used for tutoring, reading materials, after-school programming, even some construction projects such as repairs for heating and air conditioning units, among others. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- Pandemic relief funding was initially offered during the first Trump administration to help schools pivot to virtual instruction and modernize buildings to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. And in March 2021, the Biden administration offered an even larger tranche — roughly $122 billion — to assist schools with mental health and academic recovery efforts. Nicole Asbury and Lauren Lumpkin/The Washington Post.
- State education officials previously estimated the lost funds totaled about $360 million, but now say it’s closer to $418 million. They said budget implications could be “catastrophic” and that they were told to immediately stop work on any initiatives, construction projects or programs. Liz Bowie and Maya Lora/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE HEALTH DEPT, UNIVERSITIES SLATED TO LOSE $300 MILLION IN FED FUNDS: Maryland’s health department and universities are slated to lose more than $300 million in federal funding, a sum that will likely continue rising as the Trump administration looks for more existing grants to cut. Many of the cuts target often marginalized groups such gay Black men, transgender people and those living with HIV. Meredith Cohn and Alissa Zhu/The Baltimore Banner.
AS END OF SESSION NEARS, WHAT IS STILL HANGING? Lawmakers have had 82 days to deal with the major issues of the 2025 General Assembly session and, as usual, most of the big issues are still hanging with eight days left to Sine Die, the last day of the 90-day session. But if anyone is panicking, it’s not evident. With eight days left, here’s where some of the issues we’ve been following stand. Bryan P. Sears, William J. Ford, Danielle J. Brown and Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
STATE LAWMAKERS LIMITED IN PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS FROM ICE: In the final days of the legislative session, Maryland lawmakers are considering a series of bills aimed at protecting the state’s immigrant communities from the Trump administration’s sweeping mass-deportation efforts. Madeleine O’Neill/The Baltimore Banner.
MARYLAND FATHER MISTAKENLY STUCK IN EL SAVADORAN PRISON: The Trump administration conceded in a court filing Monday that it mistakenly deported a Maryland father to El Salvador “because of an administrative error” and argued it could not return him because he’s now in Salvadoran custody. Priscilla Alvarez/CNN.
TRANSGENDER DAY TURNS INTO CRITICISM OF MOORE, LAWMAKERS FAILURES: What started as a day to recognize the state’s transgender community spun into pointed criticism of the Moore administration’s and state lawmakers’ failure to protect against Trump administration actions that affect the day-to-day lives of transgender individuals. The topic of transgender issues later spilled out into a debate on the House floor, reflecting a tumultuous time for transgender people even in the so-called “safe haven” that is Maryland. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
- Over the course of five minutes, advocate Lee Blinder laid out how the Democratic governor has let down transgender Marylanders by not putting money in the budget and not backing needed policy changes. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
SENATE REPUBLICANS SCORE VICTORY IN TIRE FEE DEBATE: Maryland Senate Republicans scored a victory in Monday’s budget debate, winning an amendment that dedicates a new $5 per tire fee to state highways and bridges. While Republicans protested the new tire fee, they were able to convince Democrats to dedicate the money specifically to state highway projects instead of the Transportation Trust Fund, which goes to transit as well as roads. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- The fee would be paid by the person purchasing the tires. The new tire fee is expected to generate $24 million in revenue. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
BA CO FACES BUDGET UNCERTAINTY WITH STATE DEFICIT, FEDERAL CUTS: Baltimore County is keeping an eye on both the state legislature and the Trump administration as it figures out how much money it can count on for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The county doesn’t know exactly how much it will have to spend on things from teacher salaries to police and road repairs. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
AUDIT FINDS PG SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WAS PAID MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN 2022: A Prince George’s County substitute teacher was paid more than $7 million in 2022 — and two months passed before the school system recouped the funds. That was the most remarkable finding in a new legislative audit of the county school system, which described a number of ongoing issues with the system’s payroll, procurement and human resources procedures. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
DEALERS EXPECT TO SEE A DROP IN NEW CAR SALES: It’s about to get tougher to sell new cars. The U.S. is set to add 25% tariffs on all imported cars, light trucks and crucial auto parts starting Wednesday. Baltimore area auto dealers are anticipating higher sticker prices — regardless of whether a vehicle is considered foreign or domestic. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
