Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called on Chairman James Comer, to immediately hold a hearing with OMB Director Russ Vought on his threats to carry out mass firings at federal agencies during the Republican shutdown. “I urge you to schedule a hearing at the earliest possible opportunity and, if… Read more »
When asked by a reporter in a Tuesday news conference why a shutdown would necessitate laying off federal workers if the Department of Government Efficiency had been as effective as he claimed, President Donald Trump began with a lie: “When you shut it down, you have to do layoffs.” He followed that lie with a threat: “So, we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very… Read more »
Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following statement condemning OMB Director Russ Vought’s escalating threats to carry out mass firings of federal workers in the event of a government shutdown:“Russ Vought is giving away the game. He knows he has no legal authority to carry out mass… Read more »
In an op-ed published by MSNBC on September 30, 2025, Congressman James Walkinshaw (VA-11) underscored how Russ Vought’s directive to fire federal workers during a shutdown is political intimidation, unconstitutional, and not valid administrative guidance. Read the op-ed below or online at MSNBC. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wants Americans to… Read more »
Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today condemned the Trump Administration’s decision to defund the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), warning that the move represents a direct attack on independent oversight and accountability in government.In a letter to Office of Management… Read more »
Today, Representative James Walkinshaw (VA-11.), a member of the House Oversight Committee, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), led 17 of their colleagues in pressing the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for answers on its cancellation of the… Read more »
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wants Americans to believe that in the event of a government shutdown, he and President Donald Trump have the power to fire swaths of federal employees at will. They cannot. Vought’s vindictive memo, directing agencies to consider reductions in force (RIFs) for employees in programs whose funding would lapse under a shutdown, reads… Read more »
Fairfax, VA — Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, slammed Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s memo threatening to terminate additional federal employees. Walkinshaw released the following statement:“This is absolute bluster and bs. The Trump Administration has already done… Read more »
Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) issued the following statement on the House Republican Continuing Resolution. “I voted no because I will not support legislation that makes the health care crisis worse and does nothing to protect federal workers from Trump’s attacks. Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House. They have the power to lower… Read more »
Today, Congressman James Walkinshaw (VA-11) announced that he is carrying forward four major pieces of legislation originally authored by the late Congressman Gerry Connolly to protect federal workers and strengthen the civil service.Together, the bills safeguard merit-based hiring, protect against political manipulation, ensure fair pay, strengthen retirement security, and modernize… Read more »
