City of Baltimore

Profile narrative

The Baltimore City Government, also known as the City of Baltimore, provides a full range of municipal services to residents and businesses within the city limits. These services include public safety through the Baltimore Police Department and Fire Department, maintenance of streets and infrastructure via the Department of Public Works, and provision of water and wastewater treatment. The government also oversees parks and recreation facilities, health and human services programs, and code enforcement activities. It administers licensing, permitting, and tax collection functions that support local commerce and community development. All of these operations are carried out under the authority of the city charter and Maryland state law.

The city operates as a municipal corporation governed by an elected mayor and a city council, which together set policy and approve the budget. As a local government entity, it is subject to oversight by the State of Maryland and various federal agencies, particularly when handling federal grants or interstate matters. Recent cyber incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities in its financial and payment systems, including a 2025 fraud scheme that used stolen employee identities and a Starlink‑routed IP address to bypass geofencing controls. Earlier incidents include a 2019 ransomware attack that disrupted multiple government departments and a 2016 data breach that exposed employees’ personal information. These events have prompted ongoing reviews by the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General, and city officials to improve security posture and protect public funds.

Incidents

4 incidents linked to this organisation.