Colleges within the University System of Maryland can consider employee furloughs and temporary salary reductions to manage budget shortfalls following unanimous approval of a resolution by the system’s board of regents Monday. Under the resolution, any furloughs or salary reductions planned for fiscal 2026 must generate enough savings to contribute “meaningfully to the institution’s financial stability.” Plans could also call for closing institutions temporarily as long as essential services and class schedules are provided. The vote comes as USM faces cuts to both federal and state funding. At the state level, Maryland’s fiscal 2026 budget — which was signed into law on Tuesday — cuts 7% from the system’s base appropriations, amounting to $155 million, officials said at a meeting last month.
