That disconnect is even more glaring because, as President Trump addressed the nation, the Department of Homeland Security remains in a shutdown because Congress has not yet reached agreement on much-needed DHS reforms.
This is a moment for Congress to govern and deliver an agreement that protects communities by reining in ICE abuses, supports the workforce, and strengthens accountability. After multiple deadly incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, we cannot accept reckless policies as the new normal.
As I have said from the beginning, we should not have to choose between funding the government and protecting our communities. We can and must do both. That is why I am still fighting for common-sense reforms to DHS enforcement, including:
- Requiring judicial warrants for home entries
- Mandatory body cameras for enforcement operations
- No masked or unidentified federal officers
- Independent criminal and civil investigations when misconduct is alleged
- An end to roving patrols
- A ban on targeting sensitive locations such as houses of worship, hospitals, polling places, and schools
- An end to racial profiling
- Real professional standards and accountability for DHS agents
And as I continue fighting to address these public safety and accountability questions, I know families are also feeling the squeeze every time they buy groceries, fill up the tank, or pay their health care premiums.
On tariffs and costs, what I’ve been hearing from families and small businesses tells a very different story than what we heard on Tuesday night. Trump’s tariff policies have been driving up costs for small businesses, and those costs get passed along to consumers. For months, I heard directly from hundreds of small business owners, families, and consumers that these tariffs were raising prices and making it harder to stay in business and put food on the table.
That is why I kept pushing back.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled Trump does not have the tariff authority he claimed. This ruling is a massive win for working families and a major loss for Trump’s reckless policy agenda. But Trump says he’ll continue his tariff policies that would hurt small businesses and consumers.
I will keep fighting to reverse these tariffs and lower costs so our small businesses can thrive and families can finally get some breathing room.
Make sure to follow me on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads to stay up-to-date!
Please continue reading below to learn more about how I’ve been serving you.
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On Saturday, February 28, 2026, I will host a Constituent Services Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, located at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax.
This event will connect Fairfax residents directly with my staff, along with representatives from government agencies and community partners who can assist with federal, state, and local services. My goal is to ensure every constituent has access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to navigate government programs and resolve concerns.
Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with representatives who can assist with veterans’ services, small business support, passport services, tax preparation, career resources, insurance counseling, housing and food assistance, emergency preparedness, and other essential programs.
This is a convenient opportunity to ask questions, learn about available services, and receive personalized assistance all in one place. As always, my office is here to serve you.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call us at (703) 256-3071. |
High school students in Virginia’s 11th District can have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a full year. I’m inviting students to enter the Congressional Art Competition, with entries due Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
From the murals and monuments that define our cities to the paintings, photographs, and music that have shaped history, the arts have always been one of America’s greatest voices. They capture who we are, challenge us to see the world differently, and connect us across cultures and generations. I want the next chapter to include the creativity and talent of students right here in Northern Virginia.
The competition is open to all VA-11 high school students, including public, private, and homeschool students. Students may submit up to two pieces, including artwork from an existing portfolio. For rules and the application, visit my website, or call my office at (703) 256-3071.
All entries will be exhibited at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton from March 7 to March 15, 2026.
For additional rules and regulations, and to complete this year’s application, click here. |
At this year’s State of the Union, I was honored to host Jess Michaels, a survivor-advocate, as my guest. Jess is one of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse who refused to be silenced. Her courage is a reminder of the strength of survivors across America who are still fighting to be heard.
Survivors live in every community, including right here in Northern Virginia. Our responsibility is to listen, support, and pursue accountability, no matter how powerful the perpetrators are.
That is why I have made protecting survivors a priority throughout my career. In Fairfax County, I helped create the “Make the Call” campaign and chaired Fairfax’s Council to End Domestic Violence.
In Congress, I am working to strengthen and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and protect survivors’ rights, including for underserved and non-citizen survivors. |
This week, I heard directly from ICE whistleblower Ryan Schwank, an Assistant Chief Counsel for ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) from 2021 - 2026 about how ICE has systematically dismantled the training program that is meant to teach DHS law enforcement officers the legal limits of their authority. We heard testimony that ICE is training agents to treat administrative paperwork as if it were a judicial warrant and to use it to enter homes in ways that violate the Constitution.
Mr. Schwank testified that under Kristi Noem’s policies, ICE slashed content in its legal training program even as it increased hiring and deployed more recruits into sensitive situations. ICE cut 240 hours from a 584-hour curriculum and removed core instruction on the Constitution, use of force, lawful arrests, detention standards, and the limits of officer authority.
At the same hearing, a U.S. citizen, Ms. Teyana Gibson Brown described her experience when ICE agents entered her home without a judicial warrant, terrifying her family and traumatizing her young daughter. We must bring an end to these lawless attacks on American families in their own homes.
I will keep fighting to rein in abuses stemming from President Trump’s mass deportation policies to ensure our communities are safe, our constitutional rights are protected, and federal law enforcement cannot engage in lawless behavior under Secretary Noem’s policies. |
This week, I introduced the Veteran Technology Employment Success Act to strengthen the VA’s VET TEC program, which helps veterans and transitioning service members train for high-demand tech careers, from computer programming to software and information sciences, and move into good-paying civilian jobs.
VET TEC has real promise. More than 20,300 veterans enrolled during the program’s five-year pilot, which began in April 2019. Congress recently renewed the program through September 2027, and we have a responsibility to make sure it delivers the results veterans deserve with transparency taxpayers can trust.
That is why my bill requires the VA to publicly report employment outcomes, standardize how outcomes are calculated so the numbers are accurate and comparable, prevent inflated reporting tied to training providers, and expand reporting to include full-time, part-time, and self-employment outcomes. It also strengthens participant feedback and program improvement, responding to GAO findings that gaps in outcome reporting and feedback have made it harder to measure performance and address issues veterans have raised about training providers.
I will always fight for America’s veterans. |
I have been working to improve aviation safety and prevent tragedies like the Potomac crash that shook our nation. This week, I stood with grieving families who lost loved ones in the crash and my House colleagues to push for the ROTOR Act, and I voted yes to support critical safety systems that help air traffic controllers track aircraft in real time and prevent midair collisions.
I heard directly from families and flight crews about lives forever changed, and about the safety gaps that still need urgent attention. Unfortunately, the ROTOR Act did not pass in this conservative-majority Congress.
But I want you to know this: I will keep working alongside these families to honor their loved ones with action and to help ensure a preventable tragedy like this never happens again. |
Fairfax County has officially begun its annual budget process, and it is a good moment to reflect on what we are building together. The County’s 2026 Annual Report highlights ten accomplishments from the past year that speak to the strength and resilience of our community, from public safety and schools to housing, the environment, and vital services. I am proud of the progress we continue to make together. In Congress, I will continue to be a strong partner for Fairfax and do everything I can to help ensure federal resources and funding reach our communities.
You can read the report here: 10 County Accomplishments You May Have Missed in 2025 | News Center. |
Join my office on Tuesday, March 10, at 5:00 PM for the first installment of our “Connecting Constituents” webinar series, hosted in partnership with the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Agency representatives will provide information on Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare enrollment, coverage options, and eligibility requirements, and will answer questions from participants.
To register, please visit this website here.
If you have questions, please contact our office at (703) 256-3071 |
James Walkinshaw Member of Congress |
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