Maryland Transportation Leadership Shifts as Governor Moore Names New Acting Secretary

Annapolis, Maryland; December 22nd, 2025

From the Governor’s Office in Annapolis came a quiet but consequential change in Maryland’s executive branch, as Wes Moore designated Kathryn Thomson to step into the role of Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, placing day-to-day stewardship of the state’s transportation network under interim leadership.

The announcement, issued by the Office of Governor Wes Moore, formalized Thomson’s appointment to oversee an agency responsible for highways, transit systems, ports, airports, and motor vehicle services that collectively move millions of people and goods across Maryland each day.

According to the governor’s office, Thomson brings extensive experience in transportation policy and public administration, positioning her to guide the department through ongoing operations while broader leadership considerations continue. The acting secretary role carries responsibility for maintaining continuity across a complex system that touches nearly every sector of the state’s economy and public life.

The Maryland Department of Transportation operates as a consolidated agency, coordinating infrastructure planning, maintenance, and service delivery across multiple modes of travel. Leadership of the department requires balancing long-term planning with immediate operational demands, ensuring safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance while managing a large workforce and substantial public resources.

In announcing the appointment, the governor’s office emphasized the importance of stable management within the department. Transportation systems, by their nature, do not pause during transitions, and acting leadership allows the agency to continue functioning without disruption as projects, services, and administrative responsibilities proceed.

The statement did not specify a timeline for the acting appointment, reflecting standard executive practice in which interim leadership provides continuity while longer-term decisions are evaluated. Such appointments ensure that agency direction remains clear and that statutory responsibilities are fulfilled without interruption.

Issued directly by the governor’s office, the announcement stands as the official public record of the leadership change. With Thomson assuming the role of Acting Secretary, the Maryland Department of Transportation continues its work under executive oversight, maintaining the systems that connect communities, support commerce, and sustain daily life across the state.

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Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• OFFICE OF GOVERNOR WES MOORE, official press release announcing the appointment of Kathryn Thomson as Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, December 2025