federal government

Countywide

Federal funding uncertainty adds to FCPS budget challenges

By James Jarvis
Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden at a school board work session on Feb. 4, 2025 (via FCPS/YouTube)

For Fairfax County Public Schools officials, an already daunting budget season has been complicated by a new financial risk: the possibility of losing federal funding.

Last month, the federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing federal agencies to halt spending so it can review financial assistance programs to ensure they align with administration priorities — which include eliminating diversity initiatives, rolling back environmental regulations, and restricting immigration.

Go to Federal funding uncertainty adds to FCPS budget challenges Read more
Countywide

Herrity backs federal workforce cuts, breaking from other Fairfax County supervisors

By Angela Woolsey
The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

The Trump administration’s sweeping efforts to whittle down the federal workforce have found favor with at least one Fairfax County elected official.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the only Republican on the county board, revealed earlier this week that he “fully” agrees that the federal government’s “size and scope” needs to be reduced, claiming that there’s a “broad consensus across America” in support of a downsizing.

Go to Herrity backs federal workforce cuts, breaking from other Fairfax County supervisors Read more
Countywide

Virginia moves to protect economy from federal workforce crisis

By Markus Schmidt / Virginia Mercury
The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

With the federal government slashing its workforce and attempting to freeze billions in funding, Virginia lawmakers are bracing for impact. House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) on Tuesday evening announced the formation of an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, a bipartisan panel tasked with assessing the economic fallout and crafting solutions to protect the commonwealth.

“This is not about politics — it’s about protecting Virginia’s workforce, economy, and essential services,” Scott said in a statement. “With nearly 145,000 federal civilian employees and even more federal contractors calling Virginia home, we depend on a strong partnership with the federal government to provide critical services. The federal administration’s announced plans to ‘drain’ the federal workforce and the pause in federal funding raise serious concerns for Virginia’s economy and the ability to maintain essential services.”

Go to Virginia moves to protect economy from federal workforce crisis Read more
News

Report: Costs of relocating FBI HQ to Springfield site were overstated

By Angela Woolsey
The General Services Administration Warehouse in Springfield, potential site of the FBI's new headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The federal agency that led the search for a new FBI headquarters site provided some inaccurate estimates of the costs associated with a Springfield relocation, possibly hampering Fairfax County’s bid for the project, a new report found.

The inaccurate cost information was one of a few issues with the site selection process identified by the inspector general for the General Services Administration (GSA), which began a review in late 2023 in response to complaints from Northern Virginia’s Congressional delegation and concerns raised by the FBI.

Go to Report: Costs of relocating FBI HQ to Springfield site were overstated Read more
Countywide

Federal spending freeze could have jeopardized student meals, FCPS superintendent says

By James Jarvis
Justice High School cafeteria staff prepare meals for distribution to students during a snow day (courtesy Donnie Biggs/FCPS)

The Trump administration’s plan to freeze federal spending could’ve disrupted free and reduced-price meals for thousands of students if it had taken effect, according to Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid.

The directive, issued Monday (Jan. 27), ordered federal agencies to halt grants, loans, and other aid and review federal financial assistance programs to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, which has prioritized cutting government spending and scaling back diversity and equity efforts, among other goals.

Go to Federal spending freeze could have jeopardized student meals, FCPS superintendent says Read more
Countywide

Fairfax officials scramble to assess impact of Trump’s federal funding freeze

By James Jarvis and Angela Woolsey
The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

Update: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s order freezing federal grants and loans minutes before it was set to take effect at 5 p.m.

Earlier: Fairfax County officials are scrambling to assess how a new federal directive halting financial aid programs might impact local services and capital projects.

Go to Fairfax officials scramble to assess impact of Trump’s federal funding freeze Read more
Countywide

Metro readies for potential ridership boost from federal workers returning to offices

By Scott McCaffrey
Inside a Metro train car (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro has the capacity to accommodate federal workers ordered back to the office by the Trump administration, one top transit leader says.

President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders after his inauguration yesterday (Monday), including ones to eliminate telework options for all federal government employees, freeze hiring and terminate diversity initiatives.

Go to Metro readies for potential ridership boost from federal workers returning to offices Read more
Countywide

N. Va. leaders criticize possible return-to-work edict for federal employees

By Scott McCaffrey
Work from home (via Chris Montgomery/Unsplash)

A number of regional leaders are pushing back on the incoming Trump administration’s goal of having federal workers quickly return to offices five days a week.

Despite concerns about the impact of work-from-home patterns on local transit and the commercial office sector, requiring federal workers to be back in the office full-time brought concerns from speakers at a recent Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) forum.

Go to N. Va. leaders criticize possible return-to-work edict for federal employees Read more
News

Federal cybersecurity contractor to expand Herndon operations

By Angela Woolsey
AttainX's headquarters are in the Hallmark Building offices at 13873 Park Center Road in Herndon (via Google Maps)

A Herndon-based cybersecurity company is planning to ramp up its local operations.

Buoyed by recent Department of Defense contracts, AttainX will invest $175,000 and create 32 new jobs to expand its operations in Fairfax County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced today (Wednesday).

Go to Federal cybersecurity contractor to expand Herndon operations Read more
Countywide

Fairfax officials may seek common ground with Trump on keeping federal workers in region

By Scott McCaffrey
The CIA headquarters at Langley seen from the air (staff photo)

Fairfax officials have promised resistance to Trump administration policies that conflict with their values.

But when it comes to keeping the federal workforce rooted in the local area, they may try another tack: flattery, or at least finding common ground.

Go to Fairfax officials may seek common ground with Trump on keeping federal workers in region Read more
View More Stories