Human Rights Commission warns federal funding delays threaten investigations

Kit Thompson Crossman, executive director of the Maine Human Rights Commission, told the joint committees the commission's workload and staffing are being strained by uncertain federal reimbursements and contract changes.

"We employ 16 full time staff members when we are fully staffed, which we almost never are," Thompson Crossman said, and explained that roughly 30% of the commission's budget comes from partnership agreements with EEOC and HUD. She told lawmakers HUD has not yet paid for work done in FY25 and that guidance from HUD will limit the types of dual‑filed cases it will fund going forward, creating an expected reduction in federal reimbursements.

Thompson Crossman asked the committee to support an amendment in the supplemental budget to shift four positions currently funded in part by federal partnership dollars to 100% general fund support. She said that move would stabilize staffing so the commission can continue to investigate complaints while the federal picture clarifies.

Committee members asked for detail on historical federal payments, the commission's annual reports, and exact shortfall figures; the director said she would supply those materials for the work session.