Virginia Democrats Up-in Arms Over Potential Doge Federal Job Cuts – ‘Asking the Wrong Question’

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Virginia officials are debating President-elect Trump’s push to slim down the federal workforce and relocate agencies, with some praising fiscal responsibility and others warning of job losses in the state.

Key Facts:

  • President-elect Trump’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) wants to reduce federal employee counts and move certain departments.
  • House Speaker Don Scott Jr. sent a letter to Virginia’s unemployment agency, fearing a spike in jobless claims.
  • Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle believes the bigger question is whether taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.
  • DOGE co-leaders Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have both described plans to eliminate entire agencies.
  • Gov. Glenn Youngkin says some workforce cuts may come, but there are many unfilled jobs in Virginia.

The Rest of The Story:

Virginia Democrats such as Don Scott Jr. and Candi Mundon King have voiced concerns that the DOGE effort will leave many families in the commonwealth unemployed and struggling. They point out that regions like Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads have a high concentration of federal workers who could be most affected.

“We should all be concerned about what these changes mean for the employees raising their families in Virginia, paying taxes in Virginia and calling Virginia home,” Scott penned in a letter to Virginia Employment Commissioner Demetrios Melis.

State Delegate Candi Mundon King, D-Dumfries, called DOGE’s plan “disastrous” for the thousands of federal workers that live in her district in Virginia.

Republican leaders like Ryan McDougle and Gov. Youngkin counter that the real issue is to use taxpayer dollars efficiently, insisting that if the federal government is paying for unnecessary positions, it should stop.

“That’s the wrong question,” McDougle stated in an interview Thursday. “The question should be whether we are taking dollars that Virginians are earning and paying to the federal government and whether they are being spent wisely.”

“If the federal government is paying people to do jobs they shouldn’t be doing, then that’s spending taxpayer dollars unwisely,” he continued.

While they acknowledge some workers may lose their jobs, they also emphasize Virginia’s robust job market and the hope that laid-off federal employees can find positions in the private sector.

Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “The governor appreciates Speaker Scott’s recent commitments to support further tax relief, which, along with a roaring economy and over 300,000 open jobs, means Virginia is in a great position as the president works to shrink the bloated federal government.”

Commentary:

For too long, the federal government has grown into a giant with layers of rules and too many roles. At the same time, national spending seems to have raced past what most Americans would consider wise. Voters chose the incoming leadership to rein in government operations and adopt more practical methods, much like running a business responsibly.

This approach will bring substantial changes and, regrettably, hard choices for workers and their families, not unlike major corporate layoffs in the private sector.

Still, the new administration would be wise to roll out these reforms thoughtfully, being mindful that each decision affects real people, communities, and the overall economy.

The Bottom Line:

Efforts to streamline the federal government in the name of efficiency are on the way, and, according to the governor, Virginia stands ready to adapt.

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