Federal Government
- Virginia Bill Defines State Hiring Preference for Terminated Federal Workers
House Bill 494 clarifies a temporary preference requiring state agencies to hire equally qualified candidates terminated from federal jobs over others until January 21, 2029.
- Few Va. universities have studied food insecurity among students, though 80% say it’s an issue
Most of Virginia’s public universities and colleges are aware of student food insecurity at their institutions, according to a November survey conducted by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
- Survey Finds Majority of Virginia Families With Children Face Food Insecurity
State-commissioned poll fills gap left by ended USDA hunger survey; food banks report rising demand and thinner donations.
- The battle over data centers isn’t just about data centers, but they’re the battleground we have.
Marvell data center in Culpeper County, Virginia.
- Attorney General Jones Says DHS May Have Violated Virginia Election Law
Letter to Homeland Security demands written confirmation and preservation of voter-lookup access logs after a whistleblower report.
- Republican veteran Tony Sabio is on a ‘mission’ to win Virginia’s most Democratic United States House seat
Republican Tony Sabio is vying to replace Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia's 8th Congressional District race.
- Virginia’s federal lawmakers lock in on regulating data centers
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, both Virginia-based Democrats, have introduced legislation targeting the data center industry.
- Rob Wittman, Running Again in Virginia First Congressional District, Supports Trump’s $1.5 Trillion Defense Spending Budget
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, is backing President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense spending budget, as the nation marks its eighth month in a war with Iran that Trump launched without congressional approval.
- Virginia Lawmakers Move Closer to Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles
Virginia lawmakers are considering regulations to allow for autonomous commercial vehicles, which could shift companies from using gas to electric, self-driving vehicles.
- New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power
Data center with transmission lines in Prince William County, VA. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) PJM, the regional grid operator for most of the East Coast, is asking federal regulators to approve a rule requiring new large-load customers, namely data centers, to bring their own power supply to the grid. With Virginia among the 13 […]
- What candidates have planned for Virginia’s coast could decide a key congressional race
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. With Virginia’s Aug. 4 primaries in the rearview mirror, the ballot is set in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts. In the state’s second congressional district, Republican […]
- Virginia’s vaccine recommendations, requirements won’t change after Trump order, officials say
After President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to alter childhood vaccine guidance, Virginia’s Department of Health on Tuesday reaffirmed the state’s requirements and recommendations for all children to be vaccinated. VDH Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb said that Virginia families should trust the state’s decisions to be “grounded in the best available science.” “The […]
- Obamacare enrollment declines in 49 states; Virginia saw 8% drop
In 49 states, the number of people enrolled in Obamacare plans has declined since Congress made coverage more expensive by allowing federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year. The lone exception was New Mexico, the only state that has used its own money to fully replace the expired aid, according to a […]
- Hampton Roads tenants describe landlord’s abuse, retaliation after landmark fair housing settlement
A new settlement with Hampton Roads landlord David Merryman — who is currently serving a 17-year sentence for defrauding the federal government — means several of his former tenants will receive a piece of $2.5 million in financial compensation over the next year. Merryman must sell his Virginia properties, numbering over 60, and can never […]
- Balancing optimism and caution, Spanberger says Virginia’s revenues grew $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2026
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday highlighted Virginia’s financial wins in the fiscal year that ended in July, touting a general revenue fund that increased by $2.1 billion, record investments in public services and a new energy consumption tax lawmakers levied on data centers that is projected to add $600 million to the commonwealth’s coffers in […]
- Hampton leaders cool to limited Army Corps flood solutions
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft feasibility study proposing scaled-down protection without structural elements like floodwalls for vulnerable portions of Hampton and Poquoson got a frosty reception from Hampton’s city manager during a recent presentation to City Council. The $4.2 billion Coastal Storm Risk Management plan, now open to public comment, calls for elevating […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Saddled with $137.6 Million Bill as State Absorbs Pandemic-Era Childcare Program
Virginia taxpayers are now facing a permanent financial burden as lawmakers recently approved a massive allocation of state funds to prop up a pandemic-era childcare program. The state budget includes a staggering allocation of $137.6 million for the Child Care Subsidy Program, which is managed jointly by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia […]
- Virginia voters could gain a bigger voice in choosing the 2028 presidential nominees
Virginia is on track to become the sixth and final early-voting state in the 2028 Democratic presidential nominating calendar under a proposal unveiled last week, a move that could bring presidential candidates, campaign spending and national attention to the commonwealth in the weeks before Super Tuesday. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended […]
- Judge rejects bid from Virginia to block Medicaid work rules
States will have to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement new Medicaid work requirements, after a federal judge denied 25 Democratic-led states’ request to pause implementation of the rule. The broad tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed last summer, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, requires states that have expanded Medicaid to […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $17.6 Million Bill for Rapid Rehousing Following Federal Cuts
The state of Virginia is preparing to shoulder a massive financial burden as federal funding for housing programs dries up, forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill. Lawmakers are currently pushing a massive $17.6 million allocation for rapid rehousing efforts in the upcoming biennial budget to cover the sudden gaps left by Washington. Fiscal conservatives […]
- Hospitals predict $31B reduction in state’s Medicaid funding if proposed CMS rule passes
A proposed federal rule stemming from the reconciliation bill Congress passed last summer includes additional policy changes that would reduce Medicaid payments to healthcare facilities, a step hospital chains warn exceeds the provision Congress approved and President Donald Trump signed. Public comment closed this week on a rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and […]
- After taking off in Charlottesville, feds plan national electric aircraft charging network rollout
A nationwide charging system for electric and automated aircraft is underway, following the federal government’s launch of its first pilot flight in Charlottesville last week. The Thursday announcement came as the nation prepares to expand advanced air mobility, a shift that could improve air transportation while benefiting public health and the environment Archer Aviation, an […]
- Virginia Budget Expands Universal School Meals with $17.6 Million Taxpayer Price Tag
Virginia lawmakers have approved a significant spending increase in the state budget, allocating $17.6 million from the General Fund across the biennium to expand school meal programs. The funding targets the Virginia Department of Education and Direct Aid to Public Education to increase reimbursement rates for school breakfasts. However, a primary goal of this multimillion-dollar […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Shoulder $17 Million for Eviction Prevention as State Backfills Federal Cuts
STATE TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK Virginia taxpayers are now being asked to shoulder the financial burden of pandemic-era welfare programs that were originally funded by the federal government. State lawmakers have recently allocated seventeen million dollars specifically dedicated to eviction prevention assistance programs across the commonwealth. This massive spending initiative effectively shifts the
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $150 Million Bill for Expiring Federal Healthcare Subsidies
The recent Virginia state budget negotiations have culminated in a massive taxpayer-funded bailout to cover the expiration of federal healthcare subsidies. Lawmakers ultimately approved a staggering $150 million to backfill the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, shifting a significant financial burden directly onto the shoulders of state residents. This massive expenditure stems from an initial Hou
- Virginia General Assembly Pushes $79.1 Million Taxpayer Bailout to Cover Expiring Federal Healthcare Subsidies
Lawmakers in Richmond are pushing forward a massive spending initiative that will cost Virginia taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to prop up expiring federal healthcare subsidies. Budget Amendment Item 478 heavily impacts the state budget by allocating a staggering $79.1 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 alone. This costly legislative measure […]
- Historic $2 Billion Education Spending Sparks Conservative Concerns Over Government Bloat in Virginia
The newly proposed Virginia biennium budget for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 introduces a staggering level of state spending that has raised significant concerns among fiscal conservatives. At the center of this financial blueprint is a historic two billion dollar allocation in new public education funding, marking the largest single investment of its kind in […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $100.4 Million Bill for Welfare Administrative Costs
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive new financial burden as state lawmakers push to allocate $100.4 million to cover administrative costs for welfare programs. This staggering sum is intended to replace federal support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid that has recently dried up. Fiscal conservatives are raising alarm bells over this automatic […]
- Virginia Lawmakers Allocate $1 Billion to Backfill Federal Healthcare Cuts, Sparking Overspending Concerns
As the federal government finally takes steps to rein in out-of-control spending, Virginia lawmakers are moving aggressively to shift those financial burdens directly onto state taxpayers. Legislators are currently advancing a budget proposal that allocates a staggering $1 billion in reserves for contingency funding to respond to federal funding reductions. This massive expenditure is specifically
- Virginia Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Massive Housing Subsidies in FY2027 Budget
The newly finalized budget for the Commonwealth of Virginia includes a staggering allocation of state funds directed toward affordable housing initiatives for the fiscal year 2027. Lawmakers have approved a massive $187.5 million in total biennial support for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which features a specific $100 million expenditure strictly for FY2027. This dramatic […]
- Governor Spanberger Commits One Billion Taxpayer Dollars to Backfill Federal Budget Cuts
Governor Abigail Spanberger recently finalized the Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennium Budget, which includes a massive one billion dollar reserve fund designed to offset anticipated federal spending reductions. State officials claim this protective investment is necessary to shield Virginia from massive cuts stemming from President Donald Trump and his tax reform legislation. However, conservative watc
- Virginia’s $17 Million Eviction Program Expansion Sparks Fiscal Concerns
The Virginia state budget recently advanced a massive expansion of taxpayer-funded housing subsidies, raising concerns among fiscal conservatives about runaway spending. Lawmakers allocated an astonishing $17 million for eviction prevention assistance over the biennium, vastly expanding the state’s footprint in private housing matters. This hefty appropriation represents a drastic expansion from t
- Feds launch groundbreaking electric plane pilot program in Virginia
A view of BETA Technologies’ Alia A250 Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft in Charlottesville. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Virginia hosted the first flight of the federal government’s advanced air mobility pilot program in Charlottesville on Friday, an electric aviation initiative that sets the stage for the nation to improve air transportation while boosting health […]
- How Virginia became the world’s data center capital and how it’s going
Demand for internet access and electronic storage has grown alongside digital technology itself. At the center of that growth are the energy infrastructure and data centers that governments and companies began developing in Northern Virginia in the late 20th century. Today, the region houses the world’s largest concentration of data centers, making Virginia the nation’s […]
- High-potency marijuana fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks
When her son was a teenager, Connecticut mom Amy Wadsworth said, he was the type of kid parents rarely worry about. He played sports, cared about his health and stayed away from drugs. In 2018, when he left West Hartford to start his freshman year at American University in Washington, D.C., she expected his biggest […]
- Virginia joins 21 states in opposing USPS gun mailing proposal
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on Tuesday joined 21 other states in opposing a proposed United States Postal Service rule that would allow certain firearms to be sent through the mail, warning the change could undermine state gun laws and make it easier for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons. In a multi-state comment letter, the […]
- Kratom product sales to be regulated in Virginia
Del. Joshua Cole, D-Fredericksburg, never expected social media posts about a recreational drug would inspire a new consumer protection law, which he sponsored and was approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger last month. Spanberger ceremonially signed Cole’s House Bill 360 on Tuesday, which creates new safeguards for the sale of kratom, a legal substance often used […]
- Virginia farmers talk meat production, fertilizer costs with USDA officials
United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy traveled to Doswell Wednesday to meet with Virginia farmers and meat producers and discuss the challenges they face – and what the federal government can do to help. Limited access to local meat processors is a persistent challenge […]
- Conservation groups raise alarm as Potomac River named most endangered in the nation
A view of the U.S. Capitol from the Potomac River, March 30, 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) The Potomac River, otherwise known as “the nation’s river,” has been named the most endangered river in the country, following a massive sewage spill earlier this year and the ongoing buildout of thirsty data centers across the […]
- Va. lawmakers OK governor’s tweaks to major bills, reject health and labor bill amendments
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks with the press as lawmakers deliberate her changes to their bills on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury) Virginia lawmakers met Wednesday to weigh Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s amendments to dozens of bills passed this year, reflecting both shared goals and differing views on some of the […]
- Spanberger acts on immigration bills, seeks changes to ICE-related measures
Protesters hold signs outside Richmond City Hall in August during a rally against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, calling for the city to bar local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week signed several immigration-related bills into law and proposed changes to others, clarifying how Virgin
- Mark Warner files for reelection, launching bid for fourth U.S. Senate term caught lying 29 years ago
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner speaks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol building in October. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) U.S. Sen. Mark Warner formally launched his campaign for a fourth term this week, filing the paperwork and voter petitions required to appear on Virginia’s 2026 U.S. Senate ballot after a five-day swing across the state […]
- Abigail Spanberger ends agreement between state law enforcement agencies and ICE
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday formally ended the 287(g) agreement signed by her predecessor, former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, that mandated state law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts. Youngkin’s mandate, known as Executive Order 47, was rescinded by Spanberger on her first day in office, but that action did […]
- Data center growth drives locals to fight for more say
An aerial view shows a data center situated near single-family homes in Stone Ridge, Va., last year. Local communities around the country are seeking more input on where and how data centers are built. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) When local activist Frank Arcoleo found out over the summer that a data center was coming […]
- Va. school divisions (Loudoun, Essex, and Northumberland) repay nearly $30 million in misused special ed funds; one division disputes
Three school divisions charged with misusing federal funds intended for students with disabilities have made nearly $30 million in total repayments, according to the state Department of Education, which will be returned to the federal government. Still, one division is actively disputing the charge.
- Virginia job picture is ammunition for local Democrats in the heat of elections
Arlington’s Democratic leadership at the state and federal levels has ammunition from new data that shows an increase of Virginia’s unemployment claims. Rep. Don Beyer, D-8, seized on the figures released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday. The data showed that Virginia had been the only state that recorded a statistically significant rise […]
- Youngkin defends federal job cuts, says Virginia’s economy is strong
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday doubled down on the necessity of sweeping federal layoffs while attempting to reassure Virginians that the state’s economy is resilient.
- Governor Youngkin to laid-off federal workers: We’ll hire you
Among the thousands of federal workers who’ve been forced out or taken buyouts in the past month, surely some would be perfect fits for the many vacancies in Pennsylvania’s state government. That, at least, is the thinking of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who recently directed his state to not only offer aid to laid-off constituents, but […]
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Unveils "Virginia Has Jobs" Initiative: An Open Door to New Opportunities
Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of “Virginia Has Jobs”, a bold effort designed to further unleash the Commonwealth’s economic strength by connecting Virginia’s tremendous job opportunities with a robust and talented workforce.