Weekly Newsletter, 2.10.25
The Trump-Vance Administration is only 3 weeks old, and it has been full of chaos and an all out assault on the federal workforce and government agencies. This chaos has hit Virginia particularly hard, as the Commonwealth is home to nearly 150,000 civilian federal employees, nearly 19,000 of which are in the Fourth District. Trump also unleashed Russell Vought and the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) to implement a Project 2025 plan to traumatize federal employees, replace career civil servants with partisan loyalists, and steal billions in congressionally approved federal spending on everything from healthcare to childcare by freezing funding in order to pay for a tax cut for billionaires.
Most of the Musk-Trump-Vance actions violated federal law or the U.S. Constitution. Congressional Democrats and the courts pushed back. RVA Mag provided a good summary of some of my actions that you may have missed.
In the midst of the chaos, we experienced tragedy when a U.S. Army Helicopter collided with an American Airlines commercial attempting to land at Reagan National Airport (DCA). As families waited to be reunited with loved ones’ remains recovered from the Potomac River, President Trump blamed diversity, equity and inclusion for the tragedy. I discussed the tragedy, the President’s comments, and concerns expressed by the Virginia delegation for years over the congested airspace over DCA with CNN’s Laura Coates and The Progress-Index.
We also said farewell to former Richmond Mayor and State Senator Henry Marsh, who passed away in January at the age of 91. Henry was a tireless public servant who spent his life working to move our communities, Commonwealth, and country forward. I began my public service career in the Virginia House of Delegates working closely with then-Senator Marsh as part of the Richmond delegation, as well as Chair and Vice Chair of the Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission to preserve the life and legacy of Dr. King and keep his dream alive. He will be sorely missed.
Keep reading to see highlights of what you may have missed!
IN WASHINGTON
Trump-Vance Federal Hiring Freeze
On his first day in office, President Trump ordered a hiring freeze for executive branch civilian employees. The freeze immediately impacted Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers in Virginia, including the Richmond VA Medical Center, which had to rescind job offers, temporarily halt local partnerships with medical students looking to spend part of their residency and training at the hospital. The freeze jeopardizes the opening later this month of the Fredericksburg VA Health Care Center, soon to be the largest VA health facility in the nation. I led the Virginia House Democratic Delegation in a letter urging Trump to revise or revoke his hiring freeze, which you can read about here, and spoke on the House floor about this impact.
I also spoke with ABC 8News about the hiring freeze.
Following pushback from Members of Congress and veteran advocacy organizations, the Administration issued exemptions for medical personnel, but still failed to exempt other essential hospital staff necessary to meet veterans’ health care needs.
Trump-Vance-Vought Funding Freeze
Trump doubled down by announcing a freeze on all federal grants and loans. This illegal money grab was blocked by a federal court, but still created overwhelming fear and uncertainty for federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, and the American people, as I outlined in this statement.
The Administration claims to have rescinded their OMB memo to freeze all federal grants and loans — but the fight is far from over, as the Administration states that it still intends to “rigorously implement” President Trump’s Executive Order on federal funding. You can read my statement on the rescission here.
Moreover, even after the freeze was supposedly lifted, community health centers could not access their federal funding, causing at least three in the Richmond area to close their doors. I discussed this problem with VPM and Dogwood, and joined Senators Warner and Kaine in a letter demanding answers from the Department of Health and Human Services.
I also joined Congressman Steny Hoyer in a letter demanding answers from the Administration and a full list of broader initiatives impacted by its attempted funding freeze.
Trump-Vance-Vought Assault on Federal Employees
Last week, the Senate confirmed Russell Vought as the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). You can read my full statement on his confirmation here. The architect of Project 20205’s plan to replace career civil servants with partisan loyalists, Vought once said, “I want federal employees to be traumatized. I want to put them in trauma. I want them to come to work—to not want to come to work—because they know that they are increasingly viewed as the villains.”
As I explained on the House floor, Vought and the Trump-Vance Administration have indeed traumatized the federal workforce through such actions as, eliminating telework policies, illegally purging inspector generals and FBI agents who investigated January 6 insurrectionists, and offering a dubious “buyout” to allow them to retire early.
I participated in a roundtable hosted by Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Gerry Connolly with major federal employee groups and civil service organizations to coordinate a united front against the Vought-Trump-Vance unprecedented assault on the federal workforce and the critical services they provide to the American people.
Musk and DOGE Bros Infiltration of Treasury Department Data
President Trump gave Elon Musk and his DOGE bros unfettered access to your highly sensitive personal records at the Treasury Department – with no oversight. While House Republicans stand by and do nothing, I joined House Democrats in fighting back with the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to protect your sensitive information by
- Ensuring payment systems and private information are protected from unlawful interference
- Requiring that only properly vetted individuals with security clearance can access payment systems
- Mandating notice for both Congress and the public of unauthorized access to payment systems and potential national security risks.
Over the weekend, a federal court blocked Musk and DOGE from accessing personal and financial data kept at the Treasury Department, noting the possibility for irreparable harm. The court also ordered Musk and his DOGE bros to destroy any and all copies of material downloaded from the Treasury Department’s records and systems. Musk, an unelected, unvetted billionaire, has no business accessing your most private information. We will remain vigilant and oppose any attempts to give him free rein of critical federal agencies and sensitive information.
Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Hearings
Last week, I participated in two hearings in the Energy and Commerce Committee. First, the Energy Subcommittee focused on Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy. During the hearing, I pushed back on the Musk-Trump-Vance Administration’s efforts to dismantle the federal government and attack the federal workforce. I also questioned witnesses regarding the importance of ensuring Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports are in the public interest and the impacts of the Trump-Vance Administration’s actions on energy costs for consumers and our fight against the climate crisis.
On Thursday, I participated in the Health Subcommittee’s hearing on Combating Existing and Emerging Illicit Drug Threats, where I focused on the impacts of the federal funding freeze on community health centers, discussed below:
Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Invest in America’s Workforce
Last week, I joined Congressman Rob Wittman to introduce the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to help more Americans to obtain and retain good-paying jobs that do not require a traditional four-year degree. This bipartisan bill expands the utility of the 529 savings plan to allow participants to get post-secondary training and credentialing, including licenses and non-governmental certifications. This bill will strengthen our workforce and create new opportunities for economic mobility and avenues for long-term success.
IN THE DISTRICT
Checking in with Local Government Leaders
As President Trump began his assault on federal employees, funding and government services, I met with local government leaders across the district. These annual check-ins by region allow me to update local government leaders on my work in Washington and hear their priorities for the year. Over the past two weeks, I held regional meetings with officials from Brunswick, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Emporia, Henrico, Greensville, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surrey and Sussex. I look forward to meeting with leaders from the Tri-Cities and Charles City County in the coming weeks.
At each meeting, we discussed concerns about federal funding and our shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration between local, state, and federal governments. A recurring theme for the rural localities was the need for additional economic development opportunities and federal investments in infrastructure, including water, sewage, and roads. I will work closely with these local partners to ensure they have access to the resources they need to help our shared constituents and communities thrive.
Visiting Fort Gregg-Adams with General Randy George
As a result of my assignment to the House Energy & Commerce Committee, I am no longer a member of the House Armed Services Committee. However, I remain focused on national security, armed forces, and quality of life issues for our service members, military families, and veterans.
Virginia’s Fourth District is home to Fort Gregg-Adams, a U.S. Army garrison that includes the headquarters of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), Sustainment Center of Excellence (SCoE), the U.S. Army Quartermaster School, the U.S. Army Ordnance School, the U.S. Army Transportation School, the Army Sustainment University (ALU), Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), and the U.S. Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). Fort Gregg-Adams also hosts the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum and the U.S. Army Women's Museum.
During the January recess, I joined U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to tour the Ordnance Corps at Fort Gregg-Adams. This amazing opportunity allowed me to meet active-duty servicemembers and observe firsthand how technology is being used to train ordnance professionals, who manage weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment to ensure they are ready for combat.
REMINDERS
Tele-Town Hall This Thursday
This Thursday, February 13th, I will host a tele-town hall at 6:00pm ET to give an update on my work in Washington and answer questions. You will join us by dialing (833) 746-0071 at 6:00 pm ET on Thursday!
Tax Filing Season
The tax filing season for 2025 has begun, and the IRS is now accepting and processing federal individual tax year 2024 returns! Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov to get answers to tax questions, and offers online and in-person tax preparation options for eligible taxpayers through IRS Free File, IRS Direct File and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.