Virginia is facing a severe economic crisis as the federal government’s dramatic downsizing hits the region disproportionately hard. This new challenge requires prompt and decisive action from Virginia’s leadership, yet their silence has only added to the state’s woes. According to Brookings Institution, thousands of jobs are being lost, especially in Northern Virginia, as government contracts are slashed and companies are forced to let go of skilled workers.
A Worsening Crisis
Since January 2025, the Washington metropolitan area, which includes parts of Virginia, has seen a steep decline in federal jobs, with Northern Virginia’s suburbs experiencing the highest hikes in unemployment rates. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Mitre, and others have shed thousands of jobs, creating a ripple effect felt across the entire state.
Misguided Priorities and Political Blindness
Virginia’s current leadership has spent too much of their time engaging in political games and not enough time securing the state’s economic future, even as the labor market contracts and the state’s industrial sectors struggle to adapt. Governor Youngkin’s failure to address these challenges with realistic strategies has exacerbated the situation, as new jobs in growing sectors do not match the skill sets of displaced federal workers.
The Urgent Path Forward
There’s still a way out for Virginia, but it requires vigorous new strategies from the leadership. The opportunities in sectors such as artificial intelligence, IT, and cybersecurity need to be harnessed, aligned, and developed with the skills of available workers in mind. Furthermore, Virginia needs its fair share of new federal contracts to create pathways to redeployment and growth.
Coalition of Action
Remember, Virginia can’t merely adapt and watch passively as federal downsizing hits home. The state must fight for equal representation in movements that impact its economy heavily, counteracting tariffs and preparing vigilantly for shifts in trade dynamics. The time for excuse is over as Virginia deserves leaders who will fight for their state’s — and its people’s — economic future.
State Sen. Scott Surovell emphasizes the urgency for Virginia’s leadership to rally and protect the state’s economic interests, stressing this is not just an economic issue but a human one.
Senator Surovell is the Senate Majority Leader for the state of Virginia.
