A Fairfax resident who served in the U.S. Army and was recently let go by the Federal Aviation Administration job as part of the current White House’s push to drastically downsize the federal government will attend President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine announced yesterday that he has invited Jason King as his guest for Trump’s first speech to Congress since the president returned to office for a second term on Jan. 20.
After serving in the Army as a transport coordinator, ensuring the safety of personnel, equipment and supplies, King was hired by the FAA as the executive assistant to its director of safety — a position that directly involved him in investigations of incidents like the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people.
King had been working for the FAA for about eight months when he got a letter on Feb. 10 stating that he would be terminated, even though his status as a disabled veteran would typically exempt him from layoffs, WUSA9 reported last month.
About 400 FAA employees were laid off in February, including aviation safety assistants, mechanics and other workers whose jobs are critical to airplane safety and operations, according to the Professional Aviation Specialists Association, a union representing some of the workers.
“The tragic midair collision that occurred near DCA serves as a strong reminder that safety can’t be taken for granted,” King said in a statement. “… It requires investment, oversight, and expertise of those who work tirelessly to uphold these values. I’m glad to be joining Senator Kaine at the State of the Union to help send an important message: cutting costs should never come at the expense of safety, especially when it comes to the American people.”
Thousands of federal workers have reportedly been laid off since Trump took office, with the most recent cuts focusing on probationary employees who had been in their roles for less than two years. Affected agencies have included the Department of Health and Human Services, IRS, the National Park Service and even the CIA.
Sen. Mark Warner’s guest for Trump’s address will be Ashley Ranalli, who was a ranger at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park until she became one of estimated 1,000-plus laid-off National Park Service employees, according to the senator’s office.
Kaine said he chose King as his guest to highlight how the mass layoffs have “disproportionately” affected veterans, who make up 30% of the federal workforce.
“Jason’s story is a powerful example of how indiscriminately firing federal employees disproportionately hurts our veterans and also threatens the safety of the American people who rely on agencies like the FAA,” Kaine said. “I remain committed to protecting Virginia’s federal workers, our economy, and the safety of our communities from the Trump Administration’s actions.”
While the full extent of the firings remains unclear, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors have blasted the Trump administration’s gutting of the federal workforce as “reckless” and harmful to the economy, especially in Northern Virginia, where many residents work for the federal government or private contractors.
The county recently launched an online hub with resources for affected workers, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a jobs portal last week, though he has continued to express support for the downsizing of the federal government as a way to reduce “waste.”
For job seekers, Virginia will host a statewide virtual hiring event tomorrow (Wednesday). Several Northern Virginia governments, including Fairfax County, are working with Rep. Don Beyer on a resource fair that will be held on Saturday (March 8) from noon to 5 p.m. at Wakefield High School in Arlington.
Trump’s address to Congress will begin tonight at 9 p.m. Though some Democrats are planning to skip the speech, including Beyer and Rep. Gerry Connolly, the party has generally coalesced around the idea of attending with constituents affected by the federal workforce cuts as their guests to show that the Republican president faces opposition.
The press release from Kaine’s office announcing King as his guest is below.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced that he will be joined at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress by Jason King, a disabled veteran from Fairfax who was fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division as a result of the Trump Administration’s attacks on the federal workforce.
“I’m grateful that Fairfax resident and veteran Jason King will join me at this year’s joint address. Jason has served our country for years—first in the military and then at the Federal Aviation Administration where he worked to ensure air safety for millions of passengers. Despite Jason’s service, he is one of many federal employees who were recently fired by the Trump Administration,” Kaine said. “Jason’s story is a powerful example of how indiscriminately firing federal employees disproportionately hurts our veterans and also threatens the safety of the American people who rely on agencies like the FAA. I remain committed to protecting Virginia’s federal workers, our economy, and the safety of our communities from the Trump Administration’s actions.”
“I served in the United States Army as a transportation coordinator, where I ensured the safest mode of transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies. After the Army, I was given the opportunity to continue serving my country with the FAA as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Safety,” said King. “The tragic midair collision that occurred near DCA serves as a strong reminder that safety can’t be taken for granted. Yet in the wake of this event, our Administration decided to move forward with the firing of hundreds of FAA employees, myself included. Safety doesn’t come by chance. It requires investment, oversight, and expertise of those who work tirelessly to uphold these values. I’m glad to be joining Senator Kaine at the joint address to help send an important message: cutting costs should never come at the expense of safety, especially when it comes to the American people.”
Last week, Kaine and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) demanded the Trump Administration immediately reinstate all of the estimated 6,000 veterans who were fired during the mass terminations of federal employees and demanded veterans receive their full benefits and back pay. Veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce.
Kaine has also long advocated for policies to enhance aviation safety and has demanded that the Trump Administration prioritize the safety of America’s air travel system and reverse recent cuts to essential FAA safety roles. Following the deadly DCA collision on January 29, 2025, Kaine pressed the FAA on its plans to protect the flying public and applauded the precautionary safety measures put in place by the agency while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) carries out its investigation into the crash. On February 14, Kaine was briefed by the NTSB regarding the investigation, and continues to follow the situation closely.
