Dear Neighbor, 

You may have seen reports that Donald Trump is running TV ads during football games and Sunday news shows. 

Here's what you might not know: you're paying for them.

Trump's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tapped $20 million in taxpayer money for a slick campaign starring the President. In one ad, Trump's face fills the screen while the soundtrack pleads over and over: "love me." Another is nearly identical to a Trump 2024 campaign ad.

Let's call these what they are. They're Trump campaign ads, paid for by you. And federal law bans spending your tax dollars on political ads and propaganda.

This is so brazen that even Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the top Republican in the Senate, said taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill.

Congressional Republicans handed DHS historic levels of funding. Now it turns out Trump is spending it on himself.

As the only Democrat serving on both the House Homeland Security and Oversight Committees, I'm demanding a full investigation into everyone who signed off on this. Every one of them should answer questions under oath.

I've also joined Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and our Democratic colleagues in calling on DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately stop funding these ads. We're demanding he reveal where the money came from, how it was approved, and every communication with the White House about it, by October 7.

Because every tax dollar spent on propaganda is a dollar not spent lowering your costs.

Here in Fairfax and all across Virginia, families are paying more for gas, groceries, and health care. Whether you're filling up before your commute or stretching the grocery budget for your kids, every dollar counts. Instead, the President is airing TV ads begging you to "love me."

Your money should be working for you, not boosting his ratings. That's what I'm fighting for: cheaper groceries, gas, and housing, affordable health care, and a government that works for Fairfax families, not politicians looking out for themselves.

I won't stop until we get answers and accountability.

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. 

As a member of the Board of Supervisors, Gerry introduced the resolution to create the trail, bringing together agencies, trail advocates, environmentalists, and neighbors to make it happen.

Today, it winds 41.5 miles from Great Falls to Lorton, through stream valleys, meadows, woodlands, and neighborhoods. Along the way, he also helped preserve more than 8,400 acres of parkland for future generations.

Working with the Connolly family and the Park Authority, we've made the trail easier to navigate and more accessible, so even more families can enjoy it. There was no better day to celebrate than National Public Lands Day.

I worked by Gerry's side for more than a decade, and I'm proud to carry the fight for Fairfax forward in Congress. The next time you're out on the trail, I hope you'll think of him.

When we ask service members to deploy for months at a time, we owe them safe living conditions and real access to mental health care. Recent reports from two Navy carriers show that isn't always happening.

During the USS Gerald R. Ford's 326-day deployment, a fire spread from a laundry room into sleeping quarters and displaced about 600 sailors. Some were forced to sleep on floors and tables. The ship also dealt with plumbing and sewage problems.

Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, the situation was even more alarming. The Acting Secretary of the Navy has said eight sailors across the strike group attempted suicide, and several sailors attempted to jump overboard the Lincoln. There are also reports of inadequate food and supplies.

That's why Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and I are calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to independently review whether service members can get the mental health care they need during deployments. We're asking GAO to examine:

• Mental health screenings before, during, and after deployment
• Access to treatment at sea
• How the Navy responds when symptoms escalate
• The obstacles standing in the way of care

Our service members and their families sacrifice so much. At a minimum, they deserve a safe place to sleep, the basic necessities, and conditions that protect their physical and mental health. Congress has a responsibility to make sure the Department of Defense is doing everything possible to support them.

Public Hearing on Proposed Dominion-NextEra Merger Coming to Fairfax County

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is holding public hearings as part of its review of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. Fairfax County residents are invited to share their views.

Local hearing: Friday, October 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway.

Other ways to participate:

• Testify by phone on November 5, 9, or 10
• Attend the in-person hearing at the SCC in Richmond on November 5
• Submit written comments to the SCC through November 9
• Please reference Case No. PUR-2026-00112 when participating.

To learn more about the case, upcoming hearings, and how to submit comments, visit the SCC's Dominion-NextEra Merger website.

Bringing Quantum Computing to Fairfax County Classrooms

Fairfax County students are about to get hands-on experience with one of the most cutting-edge technologies in the world. Through a partnership between Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), and Connected DMV, Skyview High School will host what is expected to be the world's first operational quantum computer in a K-12 public school.

The partnership links our schools with the industries shaping Fairfax County's economy. FCEDA will connect students with local business and technology leaders, giving them a look at emerging careers and real-world uses of quantum technology.

The quantum computer is expected to be installed in December, with student programming beginning in spring 2027. FCPS also plans to explore dual enrollment, industry-recognized credentials, and a credit-bearing quantum course.

It's a great example of what's possible when the County, our schools, and our business community work together to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

To learn more, visit A Quantum Leap for Public Education: FCPS Plans to Host the World's First K-12 Quantum Computer.

I sat down with residents at BrightView in Herndon for a town hall on the issues on their minds, from affordable housing and education to voting rights and how their tax dollars are being spent.

Conversations like this shape my work in Washington. The questions I hear from neighbors are the questions I bring to my committees, including how your money is spent and who's held accountable when it's misused.

Thank you to the BrightView Concerned Seniors and everyone who came out to share their perspectives. Keep the ideas coming.
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For 20 years, the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke has helped older adults in our community stay active, connected, and independent. I was glad to join them to celebrate this milestone.

I've seen their work up close, including riding along with volunteers, and the care they bring to every person they serve is something special.

In Congress, I'm fighting for the same goal: making sure every older adult in Fairfax can age with dignity, security, and the support they've earned.

Congratulations to the Shepherd's Center, and thank you to the volunteers and staff who make it all possible.

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This week, I joined County and City of Fairfax leaders to break ground on the new Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center.

This project has been years in the making. When I served as Braddock District Supervisor, I helped bring the County and City to the table around a shared vision. Soon, it will put health care and essential services under one roof, close to home for the families who need them.

In Congress, I'm fighting for the same thing: health care that's affordable and within reach for every family in Fairfax. Projects like Willard-Sherwood show what's possible when we invest in our neighbors instead of cutting their care.

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