Fairfax County supervisors want to ensure the county government isn’t caught flat-footed by public policy revisions undertaken by the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress.
Supervisors voted 9-1 along party lines yesterday (Tuesday) to direct County Executive Bryan Hill and staff to analyze potential impacts on everything from federal government employment and commercial real estate to transportation and climate change.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the board’s only Republican, cast the lone vote against the resolution. He didn’t speak to the topic prior to its passage.
“We must prepare,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said at the meeting. He cosponsored the resolution in collaboration with Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who chairs the board’s legislative committee.
Their central, but not only, concern: Plans by Republicans to downscale and disperse the federal workforce.
More than 50,000 federal employees live in Fairfax County, and local businesses draw over $38 billion in federal contracts, accounting for 5% of all contracts awarded by the federal government, McKay and Walkinshaw said in their joint board matter.
“There is a palpable fear and concern” among federal employees, Walkinshaw said, as the former and now-future president has made calls for downsizing government and moving personnel and whole agencies outside the Washington region.
President-elect Donald Trump intends to revive an order from his first term that would reclassify some federal workers as akin to political appointees, who can be more easily fired. He has also advocated for abolishing the Department of Education and plans to create an efficiency department tasked with slashing government spending.
Walkinshaw said he doesn’t believe Trump and his advisers are bluffing.
“He has a seriousness of purpose that he perhaps did not have in 2017,” he said.
During discussion, McKay said the resolution’s purpose was not to reflexively oppose anything the incoming administration might promote. When there are areas of agreement, “we will be supportive of those,” he said.
But McKay’s words were sharp in discussing the economic impact of downsizing of the federal government and its trickle-down impact on government contractors and the broader economy.
“Any attack on our federal workforce is an attack on Fairfax County,” McKay said. “The immediate economic risk … is significant.”
Walkinshaw said he’s hopeful Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will speak out against taking an ax to the federal workforce, noting that former governor Robert McDonnell, also a Republican, worked to alleviate the impacts on Virginia of federal legislation during his term.
“I am hopeful … Gov. Youngkin will take a similar approach,” Walkinshaw said.
Other Democratic supervisors expressed concerns about the incoming White House administration’s plans for mass deportations, significant cuts to social services programs, and other issues, including housing, education and public safety.
“I think we all recognize the concerns are real. The action we’re taking today are prudent and hopefully can get us at least in position to respond effectively,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Stock said, calling for county officials to build coalitions with community and business representatives where they can.
In the board matter, McKay called immigration enforcement that targets people suspected of dangerous crimes “sensible,” but he argued that “indiscriminate and widespread enforcement” will be harmful to public safety by deterring immigrants from assisting law enforcement.
While the county has a Trust Policy in place that limits information sharing with ICE, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik urged the county executive to review the county’s options for preserving its ability to advocate for “our most vulnerable communities,” including immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
“The Board of Supervisors is committed to defending all our residents from the most harmful impacts of the incoming administration, no matter what form they take or when they occur, and recommit ourselves to our One Fairfax Policy and its goal of advancing equity in all we do,” the approved board matter said.
Supervisors could get an early report from staff next Tuesday (Nov. 26), when the body’s legislative committee convenes to discuss federal priorities for the coming year.
Supervisors wish Rep. Connolly well
Also at yesterday’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors wished Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) well after the congressman and former county board member in his ongoing fight with cancer.
“He’s a really strong Irish guy — he is ready for this fight,” McKay said.
“He is doing well and is fighting, as he always had,” Walkinshaw added.
Connolly announced on Nov. 7 that he would be undergoing treatment for cancer of the esophagus, which had been found shortly before. He said he doesn’t anticipate the diagnosis will affect his ability to serve in Congress after he won reelection on Nov. 5.
Connolly, 74, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008, having served as Providence District supervisor from 1995-2003 and chairing the board from 2003 until taking office in Congress.
