A sign for Leidos outside its headquarters at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Even without taking into account the global economic havoc being wreaked by new tariffs, the Trump administration’s gutting of the federal workforce could have worse impacts on the D.C. region than Covid, Fairfax County authorities say.
A 20% reduction in the federal workforce could devastate the economy in Fairfax County, where approximately 80,000 residents — about 13% of the workforce — are employed by the federal government, according to updated data from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
Enterprise Avenue at Dewberry Court in McLean remains snowy and icy on Jan. 8, 2025 (courtesy Jennifer Myers)
Fairfax County supervisors piled on the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) yesterday, criticizing the agency’s response to the Jan. 6-7 snowstorm — and what local leaders saw as a seeming indifference to concerns raised about it.
“You failed miserably, [and] it doesn’t seem to me you have a plan to go forward. All you have are excuses, and I don’t want to hear excuses,” Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez said during a Tuesday (April 8) meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee.
Fairfax County Government Center seal (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Public benefits assistance, child care and senior center support services are just a few of the areas where Fairfax County might pull back on funding, as it seeks to close a $292.7 million budget gap.
If approved, the $59.8 million in potential reductions would be the county’s largest funding cut since it slashed over $90 million in 2009 following the Great Recession, County Executive Bryan Hill told the Board of Supervisors when presenting his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget plan on Feb. 18.
Body camera video shows a Fairfax County police officer identified as Peter Liu pointing his gun at a Reston woman in the VY Reston Heights apartments (via FCPD/YouTube)
A Fairfax County police officer will not face criminal charges for shooting and killing a Reston woman after she struck him with a knife and cornered him in a dead-end hallway last September.
After telling Sydney Wilson numerous times to “back up” while she pursued him with a knife, Police Officer First Class (PFC) Peter Liu fired five gunshots in her direction — an adequate response on Liu’s part, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said yesterday (Tuesday).
The Fairfax County Police Department has implemented a formal policy for handling foot pursuits.
The department released guidelines on foot pursuits last week that it says will ensure officers utilize “leading-industry best practices” when handling “unpredictable events.” The new policy officially takes effect today (Wednesday).
A clock on top of the City of Fairfax’s City Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
School Bus Camera ProgramBegins Today — “Fifty bus camera systems will be installed during the initial rollout, with warning citations beginning on Wednesday, April 9. At the end of the grace period, beginning on Monday, May 12, violators will be subject to a fine of $250, sent in the mail, underscoring the seriousness of ensuring drivers obey laws tied to student safety.” [Fairfax County Government]
Supreme Court Allows Federal Worker Firings — “The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Trump administration can move forward with the termination of 16,000 probationary federal workers across six agencies and departments, rescinding a lower court order that they be reinstated as litigation challenging the layoffs continues.” [ABC News]
Nominees for Next Va. GovernorSolidified — “The 2025 election season in Virginia is officially underway — and the landscape is coming into sharp focus after last week’s filing deadline for the June 17 primaries.” Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is the Republican gubernatorial nominee after two potential challengers failed to qualify for the primary ballot, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger will lead Democrats’ bid to win back the governor’s mansion. [Virginia Mercury]
New Traffic Safety Campaign Launched — “Motorists in the D.C. area may notice signs and other advertisements encouraging them to slow down and be more aware of pedestrians and bicyclists.” The “Street Smart” campaign is part of a regional effort to reduce fatalities after 110 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed last year. [WTOP]
Funeral Held for Firefighter Who Died From Cancer — “A procession and funeral was held Tuesday for beloved Fairfax County Fire Captain Barry Maham, who passed away following a long battle with occupational cancer. The procession started around 11 a.m. at Jefferson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria and traveled to Expectation Church in Fairfax.” [WJLA]
Volunteers Help Clean Up County’s ‘Trashiest Stream’ — “Little Hunting Creek got a much-needed clean-up April 5, when Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Mt. Vernon) hosted his annual Little Hunting Creek Cleanup in the Hybla Valley area at Janna Lee Avenue Bridge and at the Mount Vernon Shopping Plaza.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Students Learn About Public Health at Inova — “About 80 Youth Ambassadors from Justice and Mount Vernon high schools took part in the [Dream B!G] event, which featured presentations from professionals and hands-on activities aimed at encouraging the students to consider careers in healthcare.” [Annandale Today]
Korean Community Center Celebrates in Tysons — More than 550 people attended the 51st Annual Gala for the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington (KCSC) at the Hilton McLean hotel on Sunday (April 6). Organization leaders said they remain committed to its mission of “providing social services and mental health support to empowering immigrants, seniors and youth through education, language access and advocacy.” [WUSA9]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine today accompanied by a high of 55 degrees with mild, fluctuating winds that will pick up to 6 mph from the southwest in the afternoon. At night, there will be some cloudiness and a 20% chance of light showers after 2 am, with a low around 42 degrees and light south wind at 6 mph. [NWS]
A task force empaneled to look at strategies for making transit service in the D.C. region sustainable long-term might not, in the end, deliver specific recommendations on a funding mechanism.
“It is, at this time, I think, still up in the air,” Nick Donohue, a staff facilitator for the DMV Moves task force, told the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Board of Directors last Thursday (April 3).
After a pleasantly warm March, a chill has decidedly returned to the D.C. area — a trend expected to continue with temperatures dipping below freezing early tomorrow (Wednesday).
The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for the region, including Fairfax County, that’s scheduled to take effect from 2-9 a.m.
Cords plugged into a computer data server (Photo via Jordan Harrison/Unsplash)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has delayed – if not outright killed – implementation of a bipartisan bill that requires data center developers to disclose noise and environmental impacts before receiving local approval.
Following Youngkin’s amendment [last] week, the requirement won’t go into effect until 2026 at the earliest.
Inside the Johnson Center on George Mason University's Fairfax campus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
In response to reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting international students on college campuses, George Mason University (GMU) faculty are calling on the school to step up its protection of students, teachers and staff.
The George Mason University chapter of the American Association of University Presidents (GMU-AAUP) delivered a resolution signed by 228 members of the school community to the university’s administration on March 31.
