Home Abigail Spanberger Video: Governor Abigail Spanberger Signs Ten “Day One Executive Orders,” Including on...

Video: Governor Abigail Spanberger Signs Ten “Day One Executive Orders,” Including on Affordability, Academic Excellence, DOGE Federal Funding Cuts, “political interference that we’ve seen at our world-class public universities,” Rescinding Youngkin’s Immigration Enforcement Executive Order, etc.

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See below for video and highlights from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (sure sounds nice to say that after four long years of Glenn Youngkin’s mismanagement, idiocy and extremism!) signing day #1 executive orders. According to Gov. Spanberger, the next four years will bring “pragmatic leadership and a relentless focus on making life more affordable for Virginians and strengthening our schools.”

  • EO #1: Directing every agency to identify where we can reduce costs for Virginians, whether “cutting red tape within the government” or “enacting policy that provides relief…address high housing costs, healthcare, child care and energy costs, and I’m requiring reports from each secretary within 90 days.”
  • EO #2: Establishes an “interagency health financing task force” to respond “to the crisis at hand as it relates to health care costs and funding cuts from the federal government.”
  • EO #3: Responds to the challenges impacting the affordability in housing across the Commonwealth – “directing our state agencies to review current regulations and permitting practices that may slow down housing construction; we need more homes that Virginians can afford to rent or to buy.”
  • EO #4: Strengthen Virginia public school, focus on academic excellence, including reading and math performance and student success; directs VA Department of Education to implement recommendations for improvement from last year’s JLARC findings…host a Commonwealth-wide listening tour for ideas on strengthening public schools.
  • EO #5: Responding to impacts on Virginia from federal actions – establishes the “economic stabilization task force” to coordinate “a statewide and long-overdue response to DOGE federal funding cuts, lost research dollars, reckless tariff policies and more” and come up with ideas to mitigate the damage.  Also will direct agencies to build out a strategy for responding to Medicaid and SNAP changes from HR1.
  • EO #6: Responding to “the challenges of political interference that we’ve seen at our world-class public universities”; directs Secretary of Education and Secretary of the Commonealth “to review the process for appointing members to Virginia’s public higher education governing boards” and propose avenues to reform our current system to “make sure we are putting the interest of students, faculty our universities and Virginia first.”
  • EO #7: Makes sure that the governor’s office has the authority needed to respond in a situation of crisis or emergency.
  • EO #8: Provides governor’s team with the authority to participate in critical planning, budgetary and personnel decisions, ensuring that Chief of Staff “has the authority to do her job and do it well.”
  • EO #9: Prohibits discrimination across all facets of state government; the Commonwealth of Virginia will not tolerate a denial of opportunity for anyone because of who they are.”
  • EO #10: “Rescinds Executive Order #47 – “state and local law enforcement should not be required to divert their limited resources to enforces federal civil immigration laws – it is the responsibiility of federal law enforcement. “Virginia state and local law enforcement officers must be able to focus on their core responsibilities – investigating crime and community policing.”

Governor Spanberger Signs Day One Executive Orders to Make Virginia More Affordable

Spanberger: “We Are Setting the Tone for What Virginians can Expect Over the Next Four Years: Pragmatic Leadership Focused on Lowering Costs and Delivering Results”

The Executive Orders Also Focus on Strengthening Virginia’s Public Schools, Protecting Virginia’s Economy, & Keeping Virginia’s Communities Safe

**VIDEO OF SIGNING**
RICHMOND, Va. — Governor Abigail Spanberger today signed ten Executive Orders at the Virginia State Capitol — delivering decisive action on Day One to start building a stronger, more affordable future for all Virginians.

Governor Spanberger’s first three orders direct the Governor’s Secretaries and all executive branch agencies to identify ways to reduce living expenses for families; establish an Interagency Health Financing Task Force to make healthcare spending more efficient and reduce healthcare costs for Virginians; and require a review of regulation and permitting practices to encourage the development of more housing and lower housing costs.

Separate orders seek to uphold academic excellence in Virginia’s public schools; help Virginia workers and businesses in the aftermath of the recent federal workforce reductions, reckless tariff policies, and healthcare cuts; and keep Virginia’s communities safe.

“Today, we are responding to the moment. We are setting the tone for what Virginians can expect over the next four years: pragmatic leadership focused on lowering costs and delivering results,” said Spanberger. “My administration is getting to work on Day One to address the top-of-mind challenges facing families by lowering costs for Virginians in every community, building a stronger economy for every worker, and making sure that every student in the Commonwealth receives a high-quality education that sets them up for success. These executive orders represent the first steps in our work to create a stronger, safer, and — critically — more affordable future for our Commonwealth.”

Read summaries of Governor Spanberger’s Day One executive orders below:

#1 Statewide Affordability Directive

Orders the Governor’s Secretaries and all executive branch agencies to submit reports within 90 days to the Governor’s office identifying immediate, actionable budgetary, regulatory, or policy changes that would reduce costs for Virginians. The reports must address cost savings in areas such as housing, healthcare, energy, education, childcare, and everyday living expenses (groceries), where relevant to the agency or secretariat.

#2 Interagency Health Financing Task Force

Establishes the cross-agency Interagency Health Financing Task Force within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to develop a unified financing strategy for all state agencies within that secretariat to maximize federal funding, reduce duplicative spending, and strengthen Virginia’s long-term healthcare infrastructure. The task force is charged with identifying initiatives and services most at risk for losing funds — especially as a result of federal policies, directing an inventory and review of financing processes, and directing a review of managed care organization performance and oversight with a focus on outcomes and efficiency of spending. The executive order also directs the task force to work with the Chief Transformation Office and the Secretary of Administration to review systems used across agencies to avoid duplication in technology platforms, licensing, and procurement.

#3 Housing Development Regulation Review

Directs a comprehensive, multi-agency review of regulations and permitting practices that affect housing development, with the goals of eliminating unnecessary requirements, streamlining approvals, and reducing barriers to housing production. The executive order also establishes a Commission on Unlocking Housing Production that will advise the Governor on strategies to increase housing supply. The commission in consultation with several agencies shall recommend legislative, regulatory, and administrative changes to increase housing supply in the Commonwealth.

#4 High-Quality Public Education Directive

Commits the Commonwealth to academic excellence by directing the Department of Education to strengthen core instructional systems in literacy, mathematics, school accountability, and assessment. The executive order establishes expert workgroups to improve implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act and accelerates efforts to expand access to advanced mathematics instruction. The executive order directs the Virginia Department of Education to review the School Performance and Support Framework and implement recommendations for improvement from the 2025 JLARC report, and continued development of an innovative, next-generation assessment system that better serves students, educators, and families.

The executive order also affirms the rights and protections of students, parents, and teachers by emphasizing inclusive, high-quality educational experiences for all learners, regardless of background. The executive order directs state leaders to support local school divisions through clear guidance, actionable data, technical assistance, and policies that promote accessibility, prevent discrimination, close opportunity gaps, and support student well-being. The executive order directs the Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to conduct a Commonwealth-wide listening tour to hear directly from students, parents, educators, superintendents, and school leaders about the challenges and successes in the classroom.

#5 Federal Impacts Assessment

Establishes the Economic Resiliency Task Force to coordinate a statewide response to federal workforce reductions, funding cuts, tariffs, and immigration impacts, including an assessment of federal funding losses or projected losses and recommendations for potential mitigation measures. The executive order also directs agencies to implement and manage H.R. 1 changes to Medicaid and SNAP while protecting eligible access, expand job placement and public-private partnerships for displaced federal workers and contractors, and develop strategies to grow Virginia’s agricultural and forestry exports in response to federal tariff uncertainty.

#6 Board of Visitors Appointment Process Review

Directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to review and evaluate the process for appointing members to public higher education governing boards. The executive order requires a report with recommendations to the Governor on potential legislative or policy changes to terms, reappointments, start dates, and the evaluation process for appointees.

#7 State of Emergency Authority

Establishes a line of standby authority allowing the Chief of Staff and, if necessary, designated cabinet officials to declare a state of emergency, activate the Virginia National Guard, or certify the Governor’s temporary inability to serve when the Governor is unreachable or incapacitated. The delegation is narrowly limited, subject to strict conditions and notification requirements. The executive order preserves the Governor’s ultimate authority to resume all powers at any time.

#8 Chief of Staff Authority and Responsibility

Formally delegates significant planning, budgetary, personnel, and administrative authority to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, while reserving final decision-making power for the Governor on key matters such as proposed expenditures, compensation plans, and legislative submissions/reports. The executive order also authorizes the Chief of Staff to act on major policy, budget, and personnel issues and oversee the Governor’s Office when the Governor is unavailable.

#9 Equal Opportunity Policy

Establishes a comprehensive non-discrimination policy across the facets of state government by prohibiting discrimination in employment, appointments, procurement, and public services on a broad range of protected characteristics, while protecting veterans and people with disabilities. The executive order directs agencies to take affirmative recruitment measures without lowering standards, creates enforcement and anti-retaliation mechanisms, and requires ongoing review and updates of state policies to ensure compliance, with disciplinary consequences for violations.

#10 Law Enforcement

This executive order rescinds Executive Order 47, which requires and encourages state and local law enforcement to divert their limited resources for use in enforcing federal civil immigration laws. Ensuring public safety in Virginia requires state and local law enforcement to be focused on their core responsibilities of investigating and deterring criminal activity, staffing jails, and community engagement.

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From CASA in Action:

Virginia Ends statewide 287(g) as Governor Spanberger Takes Office

CASA in Action backed Latino voter turnout helped propel Governor Abigail Spanberger’s victory and the repeal of EO 47 statewide

Woodbridge, VA–Today, as Abigail Spanberger is inaugurated as the first woman Governor of Virginia, she fulfilled a campaign promise to CASA in Action by adopting a major victory for immigrant communities across the Commonwealth.

Governor Spanberger’s repeal of Executive Order 47, which ends Virginia’s participation in the federal 287(g) program, represents the culmination of years of organizing, advocacy, and pressure led by immigrant communities and organizations like CASA in Action. This moment is the result of sustained organizing power, not coincidence.

Latino voters were a decisive force in Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s victory, with the largest shifts from the 2024 presidential election coming from Virginia’s most heavily Hispanic communities, particularly Prince William County, home to thousands of Salvadoran and Central American families. CASA in Action was critical to this victory, with a sizable portion of its electoral engagement centering Prince William County Latino voters.

The 287(g) agreements, which deputized local law enforcement as ICE agents, fuel fear, racial profiling, and family separation in immigrant communities. When the former Governor signed EO-47, it sent a clear message that immigrant Virginians were unwelcome. Ending this program statewide is a critical step toward restoring trust, dignity, and safety for families across Virginia.

“Today is a historic day for the Commonwealth. This victory belongs to the immigrant communities who organized, spoke out, and refused to be silenced,” said Luis Aguilar, Virginia Director at CASA in Action. “By repealing EO-47, Governor Spanberger has reaffirmed that Virginia stands for freedom for all. This sends a strong and clear message: Virginia does not need voluntary collaboration with ICE to keep communities safe. When families can live without fear of deportation, everyone is safer. While this is a powerful first step, the work must continue to build trust. The General Assembly must honor Virginia’s legacy by advancing the strongest protections for immigrant communities and imposing the strictest limits on voluntary collaboration with ICE.”

CASA in Action is proud to have played a key role in making this victory possible. While today marks real progress, our work is far from over. Immigrants will come to Richmond this Thursday, January 22nd to the Virginia General Assembly at 9:00 AM, to remind legislators that this is an important first step but much more work remains to be done to ensure that Virginia becomes a state where all families regardless of immigration status can live, work, and thrive without fear.

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By mobilizing Black, Latine, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant voters, CASA in Action, and its 173,000 members, play a powerful role in electing progressive change leaders who can produce the justice our members seek nationwide. CASA in Action endorses candidates that advance its membership’s priorities and facilitates greater engagement of Latinos and voters of color in elections.  For more information, please visit CASAinAction.org. Follow us at @CASAinAction

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