Dear Neighbor,

In just one week, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine, both fathers, were fatally shot by ICE agents. Their deaths have shaken communities, raised serious questions about the use of force by federal agents, and left two families grieving unimaginable losses.

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I have called for independent and transparent investigations into both shootings. The American people deserve a full accounting of what happened, the families deserve the truth, and witnesses must be able to come forward without fear of retaliation.

Earlier this year, I voted against providing tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for ICE and CBP without the lifesaving reforms, stronger oversight, and accountability measures these agencies urgently need. These tragedies make clear why those safeguards cannot wait.

As we hold these families and communities in our thoughts, we must continue working to make the federal government more accountable, humane, and responsive to the people it serves. That means confronting failures when they occur while still finding ways to bring people together and make meaningful progress.

While I continue pressing for answers, and as we continue the fight for justice, I also want to share a small encouraging update on the work we are doing for Fairfax.

Two bipartisan bills I wrote and introduced have now passed the House. One strengthens efforts to stop illicit fentanyl before it reaches our communities by improving coordination, data-sharing, and accountability across the Department of Homeland Security. The other honors Fairfax’s longtime champion, the late Congressman Gerry Connolly, by naming a local post office in his memory and giving our community a lasting place to remember his extraordinary service.

Passing two bipartisan bills through the House is an important milestone, but the work continues. Both bills now head to the Senate, and I will keep pushing to get them signed into law.

That is my commitment to Fairfax: demand accountability when government fails, protect the dignity and safety of every person, and deliver real results for the community I am honored to represent.

Fairfax is home to more than 50,000 federal employees, and nearly every day I hear from public servants who are worried about what the Trump Administration’s Schedule Policy/Career initiative could mean for their jobs, their families, and their ability to serve the American people without partisan interference.

Career civil servants take an oath to the Constitution, not to a president or ideology. They should never be forced to pass a partisan loyalty test to keep a job they earned through their experience, expertise, and commitment to public service.

That is why Senator Tim Kaine and I led 51 of our colleagues in demanding answers from President Trump about this sweeping effort to strip civil service protections from thousands of federal workers. We are pressing the Administration to disclose how many employees have been affected, explain how positions were selected for reclassification, and detail what this policy means for whistleblower protections and the critical services Americans rely on.

For nearly 150 years, our merit-based civil service system has protected the federal workforce from partisan patronage and retaliation. Schedule P/C threatens to turn back the clock by making it easier to fire experienced public servants for partisan reasons and replace them with loyalists.

This affects our neighbors, our local economy, and the quality of services delivered to veterans, seniors, families, and communities across the country. I will continue fighting to protect federal workers from this retaliation and defend a professional civil service that works for the American people.

The Trump Administration is considering policies that would open more than 2,700 square miles off Virginia's coast to mineral extraction, with potentially serious consequences for our environment, coastal economy, Tribal communities, maritime industries, and military operations.

Yet Virginians were given only 30 days to review the proposal and respond.

That is not enough time for local communities, Tribes, scientists, fishermen, businesses, and other stakeholders to understand what is being proposed and provide meaningful feedback.

That is why I joined Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and my Democratic colleagues in Virginia's congressional delegation in calling on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to double the public comment period from 30 days to at least 60 days, giving Virginians the time they deserve to review the proposal and make their voices heard.

This is the first time the federal government has considered leasing part of the Atlantic Ocean for marine mineral extraction. Before moving forward, the Administration should ensure Virginians have a meaningful opportunity to understand the proposal, weigh its potential impacts, and help shape this decision.

Virginia's coastline is one of our Commonwealth's greatest natural resources. Decisions that could affect it for generations should not be rushed. I will continue fighting to make sure Virginians have a seat at the table before any decisions are made.

Fairfax Housing Innovation Earns National Recognition

It is always exciting to see good work happening in Fairfax recognized beyond our community. One University was recently featured in the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Land Lines publication for its creative use of public land to expand affordable housing.

Located next to George Mason University, One University brings together affordable homes for families and older adults with student housing. It shows what is possible when local government, community partners, and residents work together.

From local government to Congress, affordable housing is a team effort. Building a more affordable Fairfax will take all of us working from the same blueprint.

Read the full article here.

Planning for a Stronger Fairfax 

Thank you to the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to join its July meeting.

It was a pleasure to connect with local business owners and hear directly about the opportunities and challenges facing our business community. We discussed ways to support small businesses, strengthen our workforce, and continue growing Northern Virginia’s economy.

I also shared an update on my work in Congress and appreciated the thoughtful conversation about how we can work together to keep Fairfax a great place to live, work, and build a business.

Yours in service,

James Walkinshaw

Member of Congress