Governor Moore Signs Housing Executive Order and Weighs In on Federal Crime Assistance

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore signed a sweeping executive order today aimed at fast-tracking housing construction across Maryland by reducing permitting timelines, incentivizing development on state-owned land, and addressing the state’s 96,000-unit housing shortage. Dubbed “Housing Starts Here,” the order directs all state agencies to streamline approval processes for new housing projects and leverages public-private partnerships to increase affordable housing stock.

COLUMBIA, MD - In remarks at an unrelated event, Governor Moore stated he would welcome assistance from federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF to combat crime in Baltimore, but firmly rejected President Trump’s proposal to deploy the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, calling such a deployment “performative” and “ridiculous” given the Guard’s training for natural disasters and overseas missions. He emphasized that targeted support from specialized federal law enforcement is a more effective tool for reducing violent crime in Maryland’s urban centers.