On Monday, Governor Glenn Youngkin doubled down on his support of Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce that put more than 140,000 Virginians at risk of losing their jobs. He told reporters he “expects that some Virginians will lose their jobs” while saying that he “doesn’t think the government downsizing is wrong, and in fact, we need to press forward [...]” 

What Virginians Are Reading:

Virginia Scope: Youngkin talks federal cuts and resources for fired employees, while Democrats want him to stand up to Trump

• “Gov. Glenn Youngkin held a press event Monday morning to highlight job options across Virginia for federal workers who might have already or are preparing to lose their jobs due to cuts in spending from President Donald Trump’s administration.” 

• “While Youngkin said that these changes are what Americans voted for in November, Democrats point out that Kamala Harris won Virginia by 6 points and implore him to stand up to the president.”

• “I don’t believe that the federal government downsizing is wrong, and in fact, we need to press forward and drive efficiencies in our federal government,” Youngkin said after the event. “And as a result of driving those efficiencies, I do expect that some Virginians will lose their jobs.”

• “Throughout the speech and in his press release, the Youngkin administration never used the word “fired.”’

• “Glenn Youngkin not only has a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be jobless and without a paycheck, but he is shamelessly trying to play both sides by pretending to support federal workers while kissing the rings of Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker said.

The Virginian-Pilot: Youngkin says he’s OK with federal firings, announces website to help workers find new jobs

• “Virginia ranks among the top states for federal workforce employment, and the federal government layoffs planned by the Trump administration are expected to take a toll.”

• “[...] Youngkin said that the process, which he repeatedly referred to as “job dislocation,” is painful, but necessary.”

• “[...] According to Census data, 315,000 federal workers live in Virginia, including about 64,000 in the Hampton Roads metro area.”

• “House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said that DOGE was creating a preventable crisis by wielding a “sledgehammer, when they could easily use a scalpel.”

• “Scott said that at first glance, the new website doesn’t appear to provide listings that most newly fired federal workers would be qualified for.”

13NewsNow: Virginia governor announces new hub for impacted federal workers while defending DOGE job cuts

• “The announcement comes amid a slew of layoffs to the federal workforce by President Donald Trump that includes the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, the Department of Education, the Department of Veterans Affairs and numerous other sectors.”

• “Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott said in a statement Monday that "Virginians need a leader, not a career coach."

• “Scott said numerous veterans, public servants and federal contractors are facing "real fear and uncertainty" related to the firings.”

• "Virginians didn’t vote for this and Trump lost our state by 250,000 votes," Surovell said in a Monday statement. "Virginians want Governor Youngkin to stand up and fight for their jobs instead of taking a knee."