Why It Matters
Maryland’s developmentally disabled residents and their families are facing the prospect of a second consecutive year of significant funding reductions, as the state’s fiscal 2027 budget nears finalization without a restoration of cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The outcome has drawn urgent concern from disability advocates, caregivers, and support staff across Maryland, many of whom rallied in Annapolis this week to push legislators for relief before the budget process closes.
For individuals relying on self-directed care programs — which allow people with disabilities to manage their own support services — the cuts carry direct and immediate consequences, potentially limiting access to essential daily assistance.
What Happened
Legislative leaders in Maryland announced Thursday that the final fiscal year 2027 spending plan will likely not include restored funding for developmental disability services. The House of Delegates passed its version of a $70.8 billion budget on Thursday, which will now move to a conference committee on Friday to reconcile minor differences with a Senate version approved the previous week.
Both the House and Senate budgets include a $126 million cut to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, a reduction that falls below the $150 million cut originally proposed by Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, but still represents a substantial blow to an agency that absorbed $164 million in cuts during the prior budget cycle.
In a last-minute effort to reverse course, Del. Lauren Arikan (R-Harford County) introduced an amendment on Thursday that proposed restoring approximately $150 million of the DDA cuts. To offset the cost, the amendment redirected funding from several other programs, with more than $73 million coming from the elimination of aid to student programs. The amendment did not advance.
Arikan, who noted she had declined to support funding restorations elsewhere in the budget, said she made an exception for disability services. “This budget, very sadly, has a massive, massive cut for the folks in our state who can very much least afford it,” Arikan said during floor debate, adding that people with severe disabilities represent a population the government has a core obligation to support.
By the Numbers
- $70.8 billion — Total size of Maryland’s proposed fiscal year 2027 state budget
- $126 million — Cut to the Developmental Disabilities Administration included in both the House and Senate budget versions
- $150 million — The larger DDA cut originally proposed by Governor Moore’s budget, which legislators partially walked back
- $164 million — DDA cuts enacted in the prior year’s budget, setting the baseline for ongoing reductions
- $150 million — Amount Arikan’s failed amendment sought to restore through redirected funding from other programs
Zoom Out
Maryland’s repeated reductions to developmental disability funding reflect a broader national challenge states are navigating as they grapple with post-pandemic budget pressures, Medicaid expenditure growth, and constrained revenues. Several states have faced similar tensions between rising demand for disability and long-term care services and the fiscal reality of tighter budgets.
Self-directed care programs, which give individuals with disabilities greater autonomy over their support services, have expanded significantly across the country over the past decade, driven by federal Medicaid policy and disability rights advocacy. Budget cuts that disproportionately affect these programs run counter to the broader policy trend toward community-based, consumer-directed care and away from institutional models.
At the federal level, potential changes to Medicaid funding formulas and block grant proposals have added uncertainty to state-level disability program budgets, making long-term planning more difficult for both administrators and recipients.
What’s Next
The Maryland House and Senate budget conferees are scheduled to meet Friday to finalize the fiscal year 2027 spending plan. The conference committee will focus on resolving remaining differences between the two chambers’ versions, though legislative leaders signaled that a restoration of DDA funding is not expected to emerge from those negotiations.
In addition to the DDA cuts already embedded in both budget versions, House and Senate negotiators must also address approximately $40 million in Developmental Disabilities Administration deficiency spending — funds needed to cover costs that exceeded current-year budget allocations.
Once a conference report is adopted, the full budget will return to both chambers for final votes before heading to Governor Moore for his signature. Disability advocates have indicated they will continue pressing for relief during the remaining days of the legislative session and are expected to renew efforts ahead of the fiscal year 2028 budget cycle.