See below for three press releases – from DPVA, the DNC and DPVA, respectively:
As Donald Trump’s Tariffs Cause Costs to Skyrocket for Virginia Families, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears Remain Silent
Virginia’s working families will bear the brunt of Trump’s trade war
VIRGINIA – As Donald Trump detonates an inflation bomb with a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods, a move that will skyrocket the cost of everyday essentials for Virginia families, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earl-Sears remain silent.
This tariff will hit Virginians hard—raising prices on everything from gas to groceries, household energy bills, and cars. It will hurt Virginia’s farmers and foresters who export their products to Mexico and Canada. The tariffs will also hurt small business owners, who told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that they’re “anxious” about tariffs hiking up the costs of essential goods like eggs.
“Susan Davenport, one of the owners of Tazza Kitchen and Conejo, said, […] ‘The proposed tariffs would represent an immediate increase in our costs. In addition, the tariffs could increase the cost of equipment with new restaurants or upgrades in our existing restaurants.’”
Simply put, Trump’s 25% tariffs will make life more expensive for everyone. He even admitted it himself.
Yet, despite the clear harm to Virginia’s economy, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears have remained silent. They promised that Trump would lower costs for Virginians — now that he’s raising them, why won’t they stand up for their constituents?
“Virginia families deserve leaders who will stand up for and fight for their economic well-being, no matter the political party in charge,” said DPVA Spokesperson Maggie Amjad. “Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears have a responsibility to stand up for Virginians and speak out against these 25% tariffs that will get passed onto consumers and jack up the cost of everyday life for Virginians.”
NEW: DNC Releases Virginia Impacts of Trump’s First Month in Office Ahead of His Joint Session Address Tonight
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From the economic impacts of federal firings, to Virginians on Medicaid at risk of losing their health care, to threats of the Trump Tax on Virginia’s economy, to unemployment rates in Virginia jumping, Donald Trump has been a disaster for Virginians
Today, ahead of Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, the Democratic National Committee unveiled the Virginia impacts of Trump’s first month in office – already causing serious damage to Virginians. In Trump’s first month in office, he isn’t just failing to deliver on his promises – he is actively making things worse for Virginians.
From his federal firings and funding freezes to putting some of the 1,809,526 Virginians on Medicaid at risk of losing their health insurance and 827,800 Virginians on SNAP benefits at risk of losing affordable meals, Virginians everywhere know that Trump isn’t just breaking the promises he made to Virginians – he’s actively making their lives worse.
DNC Chair Ken Martin issued the following statement:
“As Donald Trump prepares to take the stage tonight, there’s a reason he is the least popular president in modern American history at this point in his term. Staring down the threat of a Trump Recession, Trump has been a disaster for Virginians – his dangerous funding freezes and mass firings have put seniors, kids, and families already struggling to make ends meet at risk. And now, in the halls of Congress, his MAGA lackeys are advancing a budget plan that would take money out of the pockets of working Virginians, kick millions off of their health insurance, and take food off the table of low-income families in order to finance a massive tax handout to the richest 1%. Trump isn’t just screwing over Virginians – he’s playing politics with their lives.”
Trump’s first month for Virginians by the numbers:
Federal firings and funding freezes:
- Trump’s arbitrary blanket firings of federal employees threatens Virginia’s economy, given that the state is home to roughly 320k federal employees.
- Virginia-based federal contractors were forced to furlough workers after Trump issued a stop work order at USAID.
- Community health centers in Virginia stopped providing some services and closed branches due to the federal funding freeze.
Medicaid and SNAP benefits for Virginians at risk:
- Over 1.8 million Virginians rely on Medicaid.
- Medicaid covers 31% of Virginia children.
- SNAP supports over 827k Virginians, most of whom are below the poverty line.
- More than 67% of Virginia SNAP participants are in families with children.
Virginia’s unemployment filings and layoffs have spiked under Donald Trump’s economy:
- Since Donald Trump began his second term, over 11,000 Virginians have filed for unemployment.
- Now, experts are predicting that Trump’s economy could cause a recession.
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Ahead of Trump’s Joint Address, Virginians Fear Losing Access to Health Care
As Donald Trump prepares to deliver his joint address to Congress, Virginians are worried about losing access to health care as House Republicans’ Trump-endorsed budget blueprint sets out to slash Medicaid funding. As a
new Axios report highlights, 630,000 Virginians could automatically lose coverage since Virginia’s Medicaid expansion will be reversed if federal funding is cut.
Axios: GOP budget plan could cut Medicaid from 630,000 Virginians
- “U.S. House Republicans passed a budget resolution last week calling for up to $2 trillion in spending cuts — a move nearly impossible to do without cutting Medicaid.”
- “Why it matters: Virginia is one of nine states with a “trigger” law automatically ending expanded Medicaid coverage if federal funding drops below 90%.”
- “By the numbers: If that were to happen, nearly 630,000 Virginians would lose coverage, according to the latest data from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, which oversees the state’s Medicaid program.”
- “Threat level: Julian Walker, a spokesperson for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, told Axios any changes to Medicaid expansion funding ‘would have a significant impact in Virginia on patients, on providers, on access to care and on the economy.’”
- “Zoom in: The federal budget resolution calls for $880 billion in cuts over 10 years for the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid.”
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