Fort Meade Jobs: Where Can Workers Go After Contractor Layoffs?

November 2, 2026 by Admin

Another round of contractor layoffs is coming to the Fort Meade area.

Maryland’s WARN log shows that Peraton plans to eliminate 98 jobs at 9800 Savage Road, with 72 positions ending December 14 and another 26 ending January 5. Both notices are classified as mass layoffs with no recall.

Peraton is a major national security and technology contractor that works with the U.S. military, intelligence community, and other federal agencies. Its work includes cybersecurity, systems engineering, defense technology, IT, space, and mission support.

The state notice does not identify which occupations are affected, explain the reason for the cuts, or say whether another contractor will assume the work.

That distinction matters. A contract transition can sometimes create new opportunities, but workers should not assume another employer will automatically pick them up.

These Cuts Are Part of a Bigger Local Pattern

Peraton is not the only Anne Arundel-area employer announcing reductions.

Earlier notices included 382 Amentum layoffs in Hanover and 20 positions at Crosby Marketing Communications in Annapolis.

Amentum is another major federal contractor with work in defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, logistics, space, and mission support.

Together, the Peraton and Amentum notices make contractor workforce changes especially relevant for families around Fort Meade and Anne Arundel County.

At the same time, Maryland’s unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in September, its lowest level since April 2025. Yet the state also reported an estimated loss of 8,800 nonfarm jobs that month. Maryland Labor cautions that the two figures come from different surveys and that recent employer estimates have been unusually volatile.

In other words, a low unemployment rate does not mean every industry feels strong.

By National Security Agency – https://www.nsa.gov/resources/everyone/digital-media-center/image-galleries/places/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16450

Where Can Fort Meade Skills Transfer?

For workers affected by contractor layoffs, the good news is that many skills common around Fort Meade are highly portable.

Anne Arundel employers continue to need people with backgrounds in IT, cybersecurity, engineering, project management, logistics, operations, and government contracting.

AAWDC identifies IT and cybersecurity as one of the county’s key high-growth workforce sectors and offers local career resources, job-search support, and connections to training and employment opportunities.

For anyone facing a layoff, the most important step may be to start preparing before the final workday. Update your résumé, reconnect with former colleagues, review your clearance status, and consider adjacent industries rather than only identical job titles.

For current and other Anne Arundel opportunities, visit Annapolis Moms Media Job Connect.