Virginia lawmakers respond to Trump’s plans to cut the federal workforce

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) has formed a bipartisan Emergency Committee on Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions in response to President Trump’s attacks on the federal government.

“This committee will work to understand the potential impacts on Virginians and find solutions that protect our communities,” Scott posted on X on Feb. 5. “We can’t afford to wait.”

The committee is chaired by Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax). It has five Republican and six Democratic members, including Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale) and Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church).

“The newly announced federal workforce reductions, including a deferred resignation program aimed at cutting federal employment by up to 10 percent, and the mass termination of federal office leases could have significant repercussions for the state’s economy, particularly in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads region,” Scott says.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s move to halt the disbursement of federal funding impacts a wide range of social services, from infrastructure projects to social programs.

“This is not about politics – it’s about protecting Virginia’s workforce, economy, and essential services,” Scott said. “With nearly 145,000 federal civilian employees and even more federal contractors calling Virginia home, we depend on a strong partnership with the federal government to provide critical services.”

According to data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Virginia ranks as the top state in the nation for federal contract awards, totaling $106 billion in 2023.

The committee will evaluate the impact of Trump’s funding cuts “and develop solutions to safeguard Virginia’s economic future,” he said.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), meanwhile, defends Trump’s plans to shrink the federal government. According to a Jan. 29 article in the Washington Post, Youngkin told reporters, “The steps that President Trump is taking are steps … that he told everyone he was going to do and received a massive, massive vote of confidence by the American people to do.”

Youngkin acknowledged that the Trump administration’s actions “could result in some Virginians losing their positions,” but the state’s economy is strong enough for any laid-off workers to find another job.

The Emergency Committee on Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions will be tasked with:

• Collecting and analyzing data on the potential scope of workforce and funding cuts.
• Assessing the likely economic and budgetary impacts on Virginia.
• Engaging with stakeholders, including state agencies, businesses, and nonprofits to understand their concerns and gather mitigation strategies.
• Providing policy recommendations for the 2026 General Assembly session to address the challenges posed by these federal reductions.

The committee will hold its organizational meeting no later than May 1 and is expected to produce a final report with findings and recommendations by Dec. 15.