In the effort to recover Maryland’s economy amid federal funding cuts and mass job loss, Gov. Wes Moore (D) says he will push a legislative agenda this year that focuses on investing in what he calls “lighthouse” industries like technology and aerospace that could make the state less reliant on the whims of Washington.
His DECADE Act of 2026 — which stands for Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts — will be among the Moore administration’s vehicles to forward those goals through the Maryland General Assembly, which starts its 90-day legislative session in Annapolis on Jan. 14.
The governor made a similar legislative proposal by the same name last year, which passed the Senate but failed to move through the House of Delegates.
On Friday, at a tour of the City Garage Science & Technology Center in Baltimore, which houses a collection of life sciences companies, the governor reiterated his commitment to spurring private investment in the state.
“You can’t have a competitive state without a growing economy, and you cannot have a growing economy without a clear economic strategy,” Moore said.
A year into President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, Maryland is among the states hit hardest by sweeping reductions to the federal workforce and funding rollbacks to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Earlier this week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released unemployment figures showing that Maryland lost about 24,900 federal government jobs in 2025 — more than any other state.
Anticipating such impacts to the state, where the federal workforce accounts for about 6 percent of overall employment and about 10 percent of wages, the General Assembly worked with the governor during last year’s legislative session to close a $3 billion deficit by raising revenue through targeted tax p0licies and tweaking an education reform plan to reduce spending.
But economic headwinds prevail, and Moore has said more cuts will likely be necessary this year.
At a Board of Public Works meeting earlier this week, the governor called the job report numbers “sobering” and said the Trump administration is an “unstable partner.”
“These are not glancing blows. They are direct shots,” Moore said in the meeting. “We are here because Washington has broken its pact with Maryland.”
The DECADE Act, the governor’s office said, is meant to help insulate the state against its heavy reliance on the federal government — among the “eds, meds and feds” trifecta that has long been the backbone of Maryland’s economy.
The governor’s proposed legislation would move certain economic initiatives under the Department of Commerce, extend tax credits for certain small businesses and research and development expenditures, support innovation grant funding and entice the film industry to Maryland.
In statements, Senate Finance Committee Chair Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City) and House of Delegates Economic Development Subcommittee Chair Lily Qi (D-Montgomery County) praised the governor’s economic growth strategy.
“The past year’s federal actions reminded us of the risk of our super dependency on federal spending,” Qi said. “This is the time to double down on our resolve to support strategic industries, remove barriers to doing business in Maryland, and expand opportunities for our communities.”
The governor’s office said their 2026 economic agenda will build upon progress made last year, touting a $2 billion investment from AstraZeneca and investments in the quantum computing industry.
Moore has also committed to housing growth and affordability initiatives during this legislative session and is expected to announce additional proposals in the coming weeks related to the economy and lowering energy costs for residents.
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