RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement as Donald Trump is expected to visit Norfolk amid his threats to fire more Virginia workers as part of a new wave of DOGE cuts.
“Donald Trump needs to answer directly to Virginians on why he is actively cutting Virginia jobs and hurting the Virginia economy. The Trump Administration has taken a sledgehammer approach to governing that has hurt Virginia’s workers, businesses, and economy. And everywhere I travel across the Commonwealth, I hear from Virginians deeply worried about what Trump’s chaos means for their families and our economy.
“Unfortunately, my opponent Winsome Earle-Sears has defended Trump’s firing of Virginia workers at every turn. And as Donald Trump threatens to enact DOGE 2.0, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears refuses to do her job and stand up for Virginia jobs.
“Virginians deserve a Governor who will work aggressively to put the Commonwealth’s economy first, lower costs, and create good-paying jobs — not stay silent as Donald Trump destroys Virginia jobs. While my opponent won’t take the economic consequences of Trump’s firings on Virginia seriously, I will never be afraid to stand up for our people and our Commonwealth.”
BACKGROUND
In July, Spanberger announced her Growing Virginia Plan focused on protecting Virginia jobs and growing Virginia’s economy — including by creating job opportunities for Virginians through workforce training programs, increasing business investment in Virginia, and expanding trade opportunities for Virginia businesses and producers.
A recent forecast from the University of Virginia projects that the Commonwealth will have virtually no job growth in 2026 due to the Trump Administration’s “delayed federal layoffs and tariffs.”
In July, CNBC announced that Virginia lost the “Top State for Business” ranking due to the Trump administration’s attacks on Virginia’s workforce and economy and that same month marked the seventh consecutive month that unemployment rose in Virginia.
