After being sworn into her new role on Juneteenth, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy (D) told The Informer she is stepping forward with purpose, working toward an “elevated” Prince George’s on behalf of her nearly 1 million constituents.
Guided by her trust in God, Braveboy seeks to inspire others through her unique journey in public service and tireless efforts to speak out against injustice, expressing pride in how her independent voice and bold proposals have been appreciated by her constituents and neighbors.
“It’s my faith that leads me always,” Braveboy said in a recent WIN-TV interview with Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes.
Braveboy, who formerly served as the state’s attorney, said one of her main goals was to continue the ongoing progress in reducing crime in Prince George’s. She has appointed George Nader to lead the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
“We have some new public safety leaders and they are working collaboratively. They all came up through the ranks of the county police department or fire services together; they all know each other and are working together as a family,” said County Executive Braveboy. She also seeks to maintain strong partnerships with municipal police departments, who patrol a significant percentage of local roads.
As county executive, Braveboy is setting an agenda to unify local political and civic leadership, protect laid-off federal workers, support local businesses and entrepreneurs, keep Prince George’s parks and shopping centers clean, and prevent crime recidivism.
Further, she touted the importance of forging effective partnerships, lauding her working relationship with the council chair and Prince George’s County Board of Education.
“The good news is that we are all aligned, and our federal partners and our governor are too. I wanted to ensure that we have a united front as a county,” she said.
During her interview, Braveboy stated her joy in appointing returning citizen Alonzo Turner-Bey to lead the Returning Citizens Affairs Division (RCAD).
Turner-Bey has called Braveboy “a visionary leader” and has expressed great appreciation for her advocacy on behalf of returning citizens.
“I thought it was so important for someone with real credibility with a population that we want to reach, that they can see themselves in positions of power and in office doing great work to influence outcomes. That’s what anyone behind the walls needs to know: that people will see them, their talents, their abilities and they will be rewarded,” said Braveboy. “It has been a joy to be in this position, and my work continues to be responsive.”
Braveboy on Economic Development: ‘Doing Business With the People of Prince George’s’
Braveboy is planning to work alongside recently-appointed Parks and Planning Director Darryl Barnes, who ran a business advocacy nonprofit for years, to extend contract opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
“Economic development is something I’m going to have to focus on because of several decisions at the federal level,” she said, citing the Trump administration’s likely relocation of the FBI headquarters to D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Building and the expected closure of Six Flags this fall.
For Braveboy, the answer is working with her constituents to build the county.
“We have a huge focus on doing business with the people of Prince George’s,” she continued. “My motto is that it’s good business to do business here, and we are expanding contract opportunities for local businesses.”
Braveboy lamented the loss of an amusement park key to her childhood— known as Wild Word, Adventure World and other names before becoming Six Flags America in 1999. However, the county executive is looking forward to a year-round attraction that can generate more than the estimated $3.5 million tax revenue that generates annually.
“This will let us bring in users that will use the property year-round at that 500-acre facility, with 400 acres that are prime for development. National Harbor is only 300 acres, and that’s a huge economic engine for our county,” Braveboy explained. “I’m looking at ways to attract developers that will bring tourists from other parts of the country and even internationally, but also provide the restaurant, retail, hotels, and other amenities that can bring more revenue than the current revenue from Six Flags.”
Local Leaders, Organizations, Advocates Offer Support: ‘We Know the Need is Significant’
The regional economy has been deeply impacted by layoffs, agency relocations, and reduced government spending.
According to the latest employment reports by Maryland’s Department of Labor, nearly 3,500 federal government jobs were lost in June alone, the largest single-month decrease in Maryland’s federal employment since the 1990s. Almost 230,000 Marylanders are employed by the federal government, contributing $150 billion to the state economy.
“Maryland’s workforce decreased by 8,500 total jobs in June 2025, led by a net loss of 2,900 jobs in the public sector, according to new estimates released today by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The loss of 3,500 federal government jobs is Maryland’s largest single-month drop in federal government jobs in nearly 30 years,” read the report, posted on the State Department of Labor website.
The Supreme Court has also made decisions in multiple cases that will, according to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson, “allow unprecedented dismantling of government.”
While acknowledging the realities of the federal challenges impacting Prince Georgians, Braveboy assured a plan is in the works to support federal workers who’ve been laid off, including local government job opportunities and hopes to create a fund assisting federal workers facing foreclosure.
“We are also working with Employ Prince George’s, our workforce development, to help retrain our federal workers and reposition them in the workforce to connect them with private sector, local government, and state government opportunities,” said Braveboy, indicating the urgency of protecting federal workers from falling into economic catastrophes.
The county council chair and other local leaders note the loss of jobs is leading directly to food insecurity in Prince George’s, increasing the importance of local government and nonprofits to assist neighbors in need.
The District 8 Healthy Families Program, recently launched by Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (D- District 8), will distribute fresh produce twice a month for pickup.
“We know that the need is significant. We have so many federal government workers that have been laid off. We have so many senior citizens who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Burroughs while distributing food at Thurgood Marshall Middle School on July 12.
The Rev. Kenneth Clark, an advocate who gives away food and hygiene supplies to homeless Prince Georgians, acknowledged the trying times and increasing precarity in the local economy.
“Giving back is a sign that you care. The economy is not strong; it’s weakening. We are all we got, and we must stand in the gap and help others,” Clark told The Informer.
To see the interview, go to The Washington Informer’s YouTube page.