Spanberger Emphasizes Cost of Youngkin-Sears Administration’s Inaction & Negative Impacts of Mass Federal Worker Firings on Virginia’s Economy
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“This frankly isn’t about politics,” Spanberger said in a recent interview with NBC News, later adding, “It is a chaotic circumstance coming out of this White House and this administration, and it is deeply, deeply damaging to real people and real jobs and real families.”
“I’m going to continue to push lawmakers in both parties to stand up for Virginians, to stand up for Virginia jobs, to stand up for Virginia’s economy and, frankly, to be proactive in planning ahead for what’s coming down the road,” Spanberger said.
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“Every corner of our Commonwealth is impacted by these potential layoffs and by the ones that have already occurred. We have federal employees across Virginia — certainly very, very centralized in Northern Virginia and in the Hampton Roads region — but across the Commonwealth. Everywhere I go, I am hearing either horror stories of people who just got an email one day, and the job that they have worked in for years is gone, or they are living in fear that they might get that email.”
“And the story is the same everywhere I go. I had a spouse of an active duty servicemember approach me at an event in Norfolk, Virginia last weekend talking about how everyone in his office received this ‘Fork in the Road’ email. And while he’s active duty and a uniformed officer, the worry is that they might cut the entirety of the civilian force and — frankly, was her worry — what’s to prevent them from axing her husband, as well?”
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Spanberger’s nascent campaign is already finding worried government employees at stop after stop in a state where federal workers abound, turning their firings into a significant economic blow.
“I had a woman who owns a tattoo parlor and piercing shop in Virginia Beach come to me with concerns about the impact on her, because of the threats of these firings on her customers,” Spanberger recalled.
“I have spoken with owner associations of convenience stores in northern and central Virginia, where they are already seeing reductions in their sales,” she added, “and they’re deeply worried that it will continue as firings continue and threats of firings continue.”
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The Spanberger campaign told Newsweek the “devastating” effects of the cuts are being felt by “families and small businesses across Virginia.”
“Abigail believes that Virginians who have dedicated their careers to their country should be able to focus on serving their neighbors without worrying about how they are going to care for their families or make ends meet if they are fired all of a sudden and without cause,” the statement said. “Abigail has heard directly from many of these families in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and communities across the Commonwealth—she understands what’s at stake for them, she understands what’s at stake for local business owners who are concerned about their livelihoods, and she knows Virginians need a Governor who will always stand up for Virginia’s workforce and economy.”
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