Representative James Walkinshaw

Dear Neighbor,

Since my last newsletter, our nation has lost another servicemember in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Seven brave American patriots have now lost their lives in an unauthorized war that President Trump launched without presenting Congress or the American people with an imminent threat, a defined mission, or a credible plan for what comes next.

The service members we lost answered the call to serve our country, and they made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them, their families, and all those still in harm’s way the truth and a clear exit strategy.

Here at home, Americans are also feeling the strain of President Trump’s reckless policies. At a time when hardworking families are already grappling with high utility bills, rising health care costs, and economic uncertainty, President Trump’s war policies with Iran are driving up oil and gas prices with no clear end in sight. It is becoming more expensive to fill up your car, heat your home, and make ends meet.

That pain is only growing worse. The latest jobs report showed the United States lost more than 92,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent. Americans were told they would get lower costs and greater stability. Instead, they are facing rising prices, fewer jobs, and more economic chaos.

And while all of this is unfolding, we are still in the midst of a DHS shutdown under this conservative-majority Congress. At a time when Americans need stability and security the most, conservatives have refused to work with us on common-sense reforms to safely reopen the Department.

That chaos spiraled under Kristi Noem’s failed policies. That is why, for months, I relentlessly called for her removal, firing, or impeachment — and why thousands of Virginians raised their voices alongside me to demand accountability.

I am glad that she has now been removed as Secretary of Homeland Security. Her cruel policies cost lives and harmed U.S. citizens and immigrants alike and her firing was long overdue.

But our work continues. House Democrats must hold her accountable for the abuses and failures that occurred under her leadership, and we must reform DHS so they never happen again.

And that need for accountability extends well beyond DHS. A disturbing new whistleblower report alleges that a former DOGE employee mishandled highly sensitive Social Security data belonging to hundreds of millions of Americans and may have retained access to internal systems even after leaving government service. Americans deserve clear answers about what happened, who was responsible, and whether their personal information is still at risk.

I will not stop working to expose what happened and protect American taxpayers from this kind of reckless abuse of their personal data.

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Please continue reading below to learn more about how I’ve been serving you.

Celebrating Women’s History Month

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women who strengthen Virginia’s 11th District and communities across our country.

Their leadership has expanded opportunity, advanced fairness, and helped build a stronger, more just future for the next generation. From classrooms and courtrooms to laboratories, libraries, local government, and small businesses, women have helped shape our community and our country in lasting ways.

For those looking to celebrate here in Fairfax County, Fairfax County Public Library is hosting a variety of family-friendly Women’s History Month events for all ages, including presentations, storytimes, crafts, games, and more.

Residents can find the full schedule of events on the Fairfax County Public Library website.

Defending the Workforce That Keeps America Running

Recently, I spoke out against a proposed Office of Personnel Management rule that would make it easier to push out career federal employees and weaken long-standing protections for the nonpartisan civil service.

The proposal would dismantle key safeguards for career federal employees by reducing the role of seniority in reduction-in-force procedures, broadening who can be excluded from those protections, and placing greater weight on recent performance ratings, even as concerns mount that those ratings could be weaponized.

In practice, these changes would make it easier to purge experienced public servants and would undermine the credibility, fairness, and integrity of the entire process.

Federal employees keep our government running and deliver services that families rely on every day. Efforts that weaken basic workplace protections for career civil servants do not just affect the workforce — they also put at risk the quality, stability, and professionalism of the services Americans expect from their government.

I will continue fighting to protect federal employees and defend the nonpartisan civil service our democracy depends on.

Walkinshaw in the Community

It was a pleasure to visit Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and spend time with students who asked thoughtful questions and brought real curiosity to our discussion. Fairfax County is home to some of the brightest young people in the country, and I always leave conversations like these feeling hopeful about the future.

These visits matter because our students are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they are already engaged in the challenges of today. In Congress, I will continue working to expand opportunity, support strong public schools, and make sure young people in our community have the tools they need to succeed.

James Walkinshaw

Member of Congress