Dear Neighbor,
Tomorrow marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I’m on my way to New York City to join a bipartisan delegation of Members of Congress attending the 25th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Center in New York, at the Pentagon here in Virginia, and aboard Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I was a freshman at NYU that morning, roughly a mile from Ground Zero. Like so many, I remember the shock and uncertainty of that day, but also the extraordinary courage of those who ran toward danger to help others and the unity across the nation in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Our Fairfax community was part of the response. Fairfax firefighters and emergency medical personnel supported operations at the Pentagon, while Virginia Task Force 1 was activated for search and rescue.
Late that night, five members of the team were surveying the Pentagon’s collapsed E Ring when military personnel approached with an American flag and asked them to place it on the roof. They secured the flag above the wreckage. First responders working below stopped, saluted, and then returned to work. That moment of courage and resolve remains a powerful part of Fairfax’s story.
The impact of 9/11 has continued long after the smoke cleared. Survivors, first responders, and families have grieved and reflected for 25 years now. A generation of Americans has now grown up knowing of September 11 only through the stories we preserve and the lessons we pass forward.
Tomorrow, we remember those whose lives were taken, stand with everyone who still lives with loss, and honor the first responders, servicemembers, and Americans who answered the call to help. We will never forget them, and we will never stop honoring their service and sacrifice.
For those who would like to gather with neighbors in remembrance, Fairfax County will host its 25th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony tomorrow, Friday, at 10:10 a.m. at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters, 12099 Government Center Parkway. You can RSVP to attend in person or watch the ceremony livestream online.
Please continue reading below to learn more about how I’ve been serving you.
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Today marks exactly one year since I was sworn in to represent Virginia’s 11th District in Congress. D
uring my first year, we held 12 town halls, closed 2,383 constituent-service cases, and returned more than $11.6 million in benefits to constituents and businesses. The House also passed two bipartisan bills I introduced: one to strengthen how the federal government tracks illicit fentanyl trafficking and another to name a Fairfax post office in honor of my friend and mentor, Gerry Connolly.
Serving you is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I remain committed to showing up, listening, and delivering for our community every day. |
We listened, connected people with the right information, and got to work on individual constituent service cases.
That is what Congress on Your Corner is about: making it easier for you to speak directly with us, share your perspective, and get the help you need.
If you are having trouble with a federal agency, my office may be able to assist. Whether your issue involves Social Security, the IRS, immigration, veterans benefits, passports, or another federal program, we are here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us. |
Elon Musk and DOGE used the promise of trillions in taxpayer savings to justify waves of mass firings and contract cancellations across the federal government. Those claims have now collapsed under independent scrutiny.
A new Government Accountability Office report found that DHS significantly overstated the potential savings from terminating 438 contracts. DHS claimed it could avoid $10.5 billion in costs by counting the maximum possible value of contracts, even though it might never have spent all that money.
Nearly $10 billion of the estimate came from canceled IT contracts, but DHS continued purchasing the same services through other government contracts. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, it spent $1.7 billion on those same requirements. Across all 438 terminated contracts, DHS had removed a net total of just $92 million in obligations as of March 31, 2026. GAO cautioned that even this amount represents savings only if DHS does not spend the money on replacement work.
DOGE’s actions carried real consequences for federal workers, contractors, and the public they serve, including here in Fairfax. That is why Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and I called for a public Homeland Security Committee hearing. Elon Musk, senior DOGE officials, DHS leadership, and GAO investigators should testify under oath about who approved these estimates, what the terminations cost taxpayers, and how they affected critical government missions.
Musk and DOGE cannot fire workers, cancel contracts, claim billions in savings, and then avoid questions when the numbers fall apart. Federal workers and taxpayers deserve a full accounting. |
ICE is spending $16.7 million in taxpayer dollars on 6,000 electric shock gloves, devices that have the potential to cause serious injury or death.
The agency awarded the contract without full and open competition and plans to use the gloves on people in custody and for crowd control.
At a time when ICE already faces serious questions about violence, misuse of force, and a lack of accountability, handing agents another potentially dangerous weapon is reckless.
ICE must answer for this decision.
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As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I joined Ranking Member Bennie Thompson in leading Committee Democrats in demanding answers from Acting ICE Director David Venturella. We are seeking the records behind the contract, ICE’s communications with the manufacturer, its plans for distributing the gloves, and the policies, training, and reporting requirements that will govern their use.
ICE should not spend millions of taxpayer dollars on electric shock devices without explaining why they are needed, how they will be used, and what safeguards will protect people from abuse. I will continue pressing for those answers and working to ensure federal agents are held to the highest standards of safety and accountability. |
More Ways to Get Around Fairfax |
Reliable transportation connects people with work, school, medical appointments, and everything else our community has to offer.
In Fiscal Year 2026, the Fairfax Connector provided more than 9 million passenger trips while Fairfax continued investing in safer sidewalks, crosswalks, bike routes, and other transportation improvements.
One resource families should know about is Fairfax’s free Student Bus Pass. Eligible middle and high school students can use the pass on Fairfax Connector and City of Fairfax CUE buses from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, year-round. Students can request a pass through their school.
Fairfax also completed its largest Capital Bikeshare expansion to date, adding 27 stations in Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, Seven Corners, Belle Haven, Huntington, and along the Mount Vernon Trail. Qualifying residents can join Capital Bikeshare for All for just $5 per year.
To find bus routes, follow transportation projects near you, or explore more ways to get around, visit the Fairfax County Department of Transportation website. |
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Car Taxes Due October 5: New Payment Kiosks Available |
Fairfax personal property taxes, commonly known as car taxes, are due October 5. Residents now have another convenient way to pay with four new self-service kiosks that accept cash, checks, and credit cards. The kiosks also allow residents to check their account balances and print receipts.
Kiosks are located at the Fairfax Government Center, Gerry Hyland Government Center, North County Government Center, and Mason District Government Center. The North County and Mason District kiosks are available 24 hours a day, while the other two are available during regular building hours.
Residents can also pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Payments made after October 5 may be subject to late fees and penalties.
Learn more about the kiosks and other ways to pay on Fairfax County Government’s website. |
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September Is National Preparedness Month |
Emergencies can happen with little warning. National Preparedness Month is an important reminder to make sure you and your family are ready for severe weather, flooding, fires, power outages, and other emergencies.
Here are four steps you can take today:
- Make a family plan. Choose where you will meet, how you will communicate, and who will pick up children if your household is separated.
- Build an emergency kit. Keep enough food, water, medications, flashlights, chargers, and other essentials to remain self-sufficient for three to five days.
- Sign up for Fairfax Alerts. You can receive emergency, severe weather, traffic, and public safety notifications by text, phone, or email.
- Plan for everyone in your household. Remember the specific needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.
Fairfax is also asking residents to complete a brief Emergency Preparedness Survey.
Your responses will help the County improve its preparedness resources and outreach. |
If you know a student in Fairfax who dreams of serving our country, applications are now open for my 2026 U.S. Service Academy nominations.
The U.S. Service Academies prepare future military officers through a rigorous academic and leadership education. Students seeking appointments to most academies must receive a nomination from an authorized source, including their Member of Congress.
I may nominate eligible students who live in Virginia’s 11th District. Completed applications for the Class of 2031 are due October 2, 2026, and applicants who submit a complete package may be invited to interview with our Service Academy Advisory Boards this fall.
I encourage interested students and families to start the process early and make sure all required materials are submitted before the deadline.
Learn more, download the application, and submit your materials here. |
Metro connects Fairfax residents with jobs, schools, appointments, and communities across our region. I recently rode Metro with WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke to discuss the system’s critical role in keeping our region moving and supporting Fairfax’s continued success.
Reliable public transportation is essential to our economy and quality of life. I will continue working with regional leaders to support a Metro system that serves riders safely and reliably. |
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I joined Fairfax Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisors Dan Storck and Pat Herrity to celebrate the opening of Cornet Technology’s new headquarters in Springfield.
Cornet designs, tests, and manufactures advanced communications equipment right here in Virginia’s 11th District. Its technology supports our military, federal agencies, and critical national security missions.
The new headquarters reflects Fairfax’s important role in American innovation and advanced manufacturing. I was glad to celebrate this important new chapter for Cornet and its work here in Fairfax. |
James Walkinshaw Member of Congress |
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