“THIS IS AN ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK MOMENT”: A CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSWOMAN JENNIFER MCCLELLAN

Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan spoke straight, framing this moment in American history in two ways: A reckoning with our nation’s founding ideals of liberty and equality and a warning that the current political climate is stress-testing the very foundations of American democracy.  

These two frames are interdependent. One cannot exist without the other. But her words feel more tactile and real than at any other point in recent memory. Democracy is under assault, and, as a student of history, a veteran of public service, and a lifelong advocate for Virginia’s communities, she sees this moment for what it actually is—a crossroads between promise and retreat. 

McClellan isn’t offering easy answers. Because there aren’t any right now. She delves into the impacts of the federal workforce cuts here in Richmond, the erosion of public health infrastructure, threats to voting rights, and the inflection point we’ve now reached in the U.S.— one that demands constant engagement from each of us. In our conversation, she speaks with clarity and candor. Democracy’s not a passive inheritance, but an active responsibility. Hope is not automatic. This is an “all-hands-on-deck” moment. And we need to pay attention. 

Congresswoman. How are you? 

I’m doing well. Thank you.

I suspect asking if it’s a busy time right now would be something of an understatement?

[Laughing] Yes, it’s busy and getting even more busy. 

I was told you’re a student of history. So I want to start with a big question: What do you make of this moment in history? Because it feels like we’re at the crossroads of the American project. 

We absolutely are. And I see two different frames happening at the same time. 

The first, is the story of America: How do we reconcile the ideals upon which we were founded 249 years ago with the reality of how we were founded—as both the birthplace of American democracy and the birthplace of American slavery? 

Every time we’ve made progress in making our ideals true for everyone, there’s been a backlash—and that backlash involves propaganda, violence and voter suppression. This is probably the most significant backlash since reconstruction [post-Civil War]. 

Do you think we’ve reached that point?  

I do. This backlash is stress-testing our republic more than probably any other time in our history—even counting the Civil War. [During that time] our government still operated within the framework of the Constitution. But now, the executive branch is stress-testing the checks and balances of the Constitution, as it tries to grab more power and take on the characteristics of an authoritarian dictatorship. 

And that’s the second frame?   

Yes. There’s a real question about whether our 250th anniversary as a country will be a celebration… or a wake.

Let me shift that into my next question. You are co-leading the Service Act and the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act. Both provide protections for our federal workers—many of whom are fellow Virginians. Do either of these bills stand a change of passing in a Republican controlled Congress. 

Unfortunately, no. We need three Republicans to join us to protect our federal workforce. They need a few more in the Senate. 

I do think as the American people start to feel the impact of what the Trump administration is doing, that pressure will force Republicans to step up—I am starting to see some of them realize that. 

So while these particular bills might not make it, I’m hopeful that they will begin to take back the mantle of oversight and protect our federal workforce.

On April 8th, you spoke out about the workforce firings at federal health agencies. We’re still recovering from a pandemic. What should people understand about the risks to public health right now? 

It’s not just the fact that we’re still coming out of COVID. We’re now dealing with bird flu, a measles flare-up, and with climate change—who knows what comes next? What COVID showed us, was that we were woefully unprepared for any public health crisis. 

There seems to be collective amnesia of that, and an undoing of all of the lessons we learned. I’m very concerned about this because it impacts everything—even if you don’t get to pandemic proportions.  

These cuts are also affecting our ability to address the maternal mortality crisis. Pregnant women in America have some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates of any developed nation. And Black women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy related causes. We were beginning to make progress on this, but these cuts undermined that. 

We were also making progress addressing HIV and AIDS. These cuts undermine that. We were making real progress with cancer and Alzheimer’s research. These cuts undermined that, too. 

And when you combine this with the workforce cuts, the National Institute of Health (NIH) grant funding cuts—its making it even harder for us to keep people healthy. We can also add cuts to Medicaid on top of that right now. On Friday, the House passed a budget plan requiring this—they don’t want to admit it, but it does. 

State agencies are already struggling to meet their needs. 

Have you had any interaction with DOGE personally? Is there any oversight or Congressional briefings on their work directly?

Not that Democrats are invited to. 

I don’t know if Republicans are getting any, but we get all of our information from from the press. We’ve seen our legislative liaisons with federal agencies—who normally talk to any member of Congress—become very cagey. 

So, no. I am not getting any direct briefings, other than when there are hearings. We get our information either from the press or from state agencies. Sometimes I am able to ask witness questions, but we only get five minutes—and only if those are related to the topic of the hearing. 

What do these cuts and firings means for us in Richmond? Where are we most likely to feel the impact?  

Everywhere. In Richmond—and this is true for the Fourth District overall—we have a lot of people who work for the federal, state, or local government. They’re all interconnected. 

The federal workforce and funding cuts have also led to layoffs and firings at relevant state agencies. I think the biggest impact is going to be healthcare, public health, and also in environmental and education policy. 

We’re really starting to see it in every aspect of government.

And when you add the impact that the Trump administration’s tariffs are having on the economy—it’s a double whammy. Experts are now worried we’re headed towards a recession. So what’s that going to mean? It’s not good at all. I don’t want to sound like Cassandra, but it’s not good. 

Just to pile on a bit more, we’re losing 12 million in federal grants meant for water system upgrades in Richmond—right after our water crisis in January. The administration said this funding was an example of a “political agenda.” How do you respond to that? How is a water system upgrade considered “political?” 

Because Donald Trump looks at everything and anybody that does not bow down and kiss his feet as a political adversary, right?

It’s as simple as that?

It’s as simple as that. Richmond, like most cities, has infrastructure challenges that are over 100 years old. We have high concentrations of poverty, chronic underfunding of services, and all of that is coming to a head with these cuts at a federal level. 

I think what most people forget is that federal programs and agencies were created to solve a problem or fill a gap that state and local government wasn’t—usually because they can’t. Local governments rely on property taxes, and that’s a limited resource. But the state can’t fill all of those gaps either. That’s why the federal government created most of these programs—and most of these programs were created in response to a crisis, whether it was the Great Depression or a public health crisis. 

Returning to your two frames, because I find that absolutely fascinating. Do you feel Congress has abdicated its role in checking the president’s power? 

Absolutely. 

Well, I should say the majority party in both the House and Senate. I do see individual members who are starting to feel uncomfortable, and they are starting to step up. The Senate, on a bipartisan basis, passed Tim Kaine’s bill to roll back tariffs on Canada. I hear some of my colleagues express concern about a wide variety of things behind the scenes—and they’re starting to say so publicly. 

The question is: What are they going to do about it? And I don’t see them doing a lot until their constituents demand that they do.

That’s the tipping point, the constituents?

Absolutely. That’s what gives me hope we will survive as a republic. Because at the end of the day, I trust the American people to make their voices heard—I see them doing it. Every time there has been backlash that goes too far, the people push back.

What’s been the vibe privately in Congress, especially after the recent economic turbulence? Are members coming to any realizations, even if they’re not saying so publicly? 

A lot of them are, yes. But some have drunk the Kool Aid and think “Oh, everything will be fine.” But I can tell you—talking to you, and not just my constituents—what I’m seeing across the country is this: 

This is not what the American people wanted. This is not what they voted for. And they’re pushing back. 

In Richmond, there seems to be a pervasive anxiety right now. Everything is under attack, everything is at risk—universities, diversity programs, research grants. Twenty-two student visas have been revoked. Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves?

Our hope is the courts and the people. A big part of of what I’m doing is making sure people know what’s going on, and that they know I’m fighting for them. I’m telling them how they can make their voices heard. And there are multiple ways. Whether it’s calling members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican. We need to hear from people. We need to hear the stories of how these cuts are impacting people’s lives—I need to be able to share those stories. My colleagues need to hear them. They need to see people showing up at town halls. They need to see people protesting. 

The president backs down when he gets enough pushback. But this is really an all-hands-on-deck moment. I know we went really dark, but what gives me hope—even though I’m fighting the same fights that my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents fought—is that I’m doing it from a position of more strength and power than they ever dreamed of. 

I think that’s true of every American right now. Compared to where we were in the 1880s, and even in the 1960s, people understand their power. But sometimes we have to remind them. A lot of this history is not taught in schools anymore. We’ve seen a decline in civics education. We have seen the rise of social media and a lot of misinformation and disinformation. And frankly, we’ve seen the press—who’s also supposed to be a check—abdicating its responsibility in a lot of ways. 

Everybody has to do their part to save our republic. And I have faith that ultimately that will happen. In the meantime, we’re going through a pretty dark period. 

I don’t want to get to spiritual on you… 

Please, I’m interested. 

I spoke at a church service, and when I came home, I thought to myself: To get to resurrection, you have to go through crucifixion. To get to the promised land, you have to go through the wilderness. 

To make the ideals upon which this country was founded true for everybody, we have to go through this period—for people to fully understand what’s at stake. That really struck me yesterday. 

I think in more normal times, I would probably ask about your priorities over the next two years. But given the current chaos, have your priorities changed for the Commonwealth changed?

Overall, no.  I ran for office 20 years ago to help people and solve problems. My parents’ lives—and my study of history showed me— that at best, government is a force for helping people; and at worse, it’s a force for oppressing some for the benefit of a few. 

I still wake up every morning asking the same questions: “What can I do to help people? Improve communities? And mitigate harm?” The answer to those questions is different in the 119th Congress, but the questions are still the same. That’s still my priority— where do people need help? Is it the federal employees who are literally texting me, “help us?” I literally get those texts. 

That’s brutal. 

Is it helping people who are afraid if they walk down the street, they’re going to be snatched up, put on a plane, and sent to a prison in El Salvador? So it’s harder. It’s darker. But my focus and my mission is still the same. 

Before you go, Congresswoman just two final questions. The first one, can you give a brief overview of the SAVE Act and how that might impact voting rights in Virginia?

Every backlash includes voter suppression. So [the SAVE Act]  requires every American citizen to prove their citizenship before they can register to vote in a federal election. The only way to do that is through documents that cost money— so it’s a poll tax. 

The only document that doesn’t cost money is a military ID. It also effectively eliminates mail and online registration. So if you’re a service member stationed away from your residence and you can’t get back to register in person—you’re out of luck. It’s going to impact everybody. 

I just saw this morning in Cardinal News, it’s going to impact Republicans, it’s going to impact Democrats. Rural areas, the elderly, the homebound, our military, low-income—everyone. 

At the end of the day it’s a poll tax. Just like the $2.12 that my dad had to pay when he first registered to vote in the 40s, right? That’s the 2025 version of voter suppression.

Final question, which I have to ask because its RVA Magazine. What have you been into lately— music, film, TV, books? Any recommendations for our readers? 

I’m actually watching the showThe Chosen, which I don’t know if you’re familiar with. It’s a TV series about Jesus and his disciples. I’m rewatching season four to get ready for season five, and with it being Holy Week, it’s pretty timely. 

You know, I did go to Galaxy Con too. 

What caught your eye there? 

We met Jason Isaacs, and my daughter was pretty excited about that. She likes Lucius Malfoy. 

That’s fantastic. He was great in White Lotus. Well, thank you very much Congresswoman. Did I miss anything? 

I would just emphasize this is all-hands-on-deck moment. If you know anybody who cares about making the ideals upon which this country was founded true for everybody—they should be engaged. 

I often give a speech and end it with John Lewis’s quote, “Democracy is not a state. It’s an action that requires every generation to do its part to build the beloved community.”  Now is the time to be engaged—not to sit on the sidelines and think it’ll take care of itself. Because it won’t. It requires all of us to do our part.

Thank you so much for such an in-depth conversation. 

Thank you.