Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) reassured Virginians who are losing their jobs as a result of the Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts that the state is “here to help” but defended President Donald Trump’s move as necessary to reduce government “bloat.”
Roughly 145,000, or 6.3%, of all federal workers reside in Virginia, as the northern part of the state borders Washington, D.C. The Trump administration has taken aim at the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency as it seeks to cut waste and fraud, firing over 10,000 federal workers so far.
Youngkin acknowledged the anxiety many federal workers are feeling as more cuts loom but vowed that Virginia would support them during a press conference Tuesday.
“First and foremost, I just want them to know that we will have the ability to support them through any job dislocation,” Youngkin said, referring to federal workers.
The Virginia governor did not elaborate on what steps he would take to support federal workers.
As Democrats in the commonwealth have criticized Republicans for proposed cuts to the federal workforce, Youngkin defended the cuts as part of an important process to make the government more efficient. He asked the media not to further inflame the anxiety federal workers are feeling as numerous government agencies are being put under the microscope.
“We first need to recognize that this process that the federal government is going through is one that is needed because of the inefficiency and bloat of the federal government,” Youngkin said, “And second of all, the American voters supported it and continue to.”
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“This is about stepping back and making sure that tax dollars are being appropriately managed,” he added.
Virginia Democrats have pointed to Maryland’s response to cuts to the federal workforce, which includes offering a website with resources, as a model for the commonwealth to follow. Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker said the governor is “not grasping the magnitude of how serious the impact will be in the Commonwealth.”