Loss of U.S. Treasury Jobs Criticized By Prince George’s Officials

Prince George’s County officials are decrying a decision by the federal government to move 450 jobs from Hyattsville to West Virginia.

In the fall of 2013, the U.S. Department of Treasury will begin moving positions from the Federal Management Services facility to West Virginia, according The Gazette. The move will be part of FM’s consolidation with the Bureau of Public Debt.

Elected leaders and officials in Prince George's expressed disappointment over the move. It’s the latest in a string of decisions by the federal government to either remove jobs from the county or place potential jobs in other jurisdictions.

“Prince George’s County has been consistently ignored by the federal government when looking for opportunities for office space,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker. “Any reorganization of the federal government and its physical footprint away from Prince George’s County directly contradicts [those] policy objectives and goals.”

Baker campaigned on bringing additional and help spur development. But Prince George’s Counties to be overlooked, he said.

Last August, the county courted the , The department eventually decided to stay in Rockville.

Still, officials are concerned what the latest move would mean for county residents' job prospects.

“I expect that these workers losing their jobs will be compensated and provided opportunities to find new employment,” U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Dist. 4) told The Gazette. “I will continue to demand transparency and fair leasing practices on the part of the GSA to level the playing field.”