Don Beyer won reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday.
Congressman Don Beyer, an Alexandria resident, shared an invitation to a constituent services event to be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Paragon Theaters, 112 Founders Ave, in Falls Church.
The event will offer practical financial guidance tailored for current and former federal workers. Held in partnership with Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi and wellfed, an organization of former federal employees providing comprehensive support for current and federal workers and contractors at every stage of their career journey, the event will be part of Congressman Beyer’s “Rising to Meet the Challenge” series to support Northern Virginians affected by the current administration's policies. In addition to financial advice, attendees will have access to community and wellness resources, and lunch will be provided.
Earlier this week, Beyer published an open letter in support of federal employees in which he wrote:
“We have seen the news of mass firings at different federal agencies. At the Departments of Agriculture, Education, State, Health and Human Services, at OPM, FDA, CDC, NIH, and NASA. This is deeply tragic and upsetting. Many of us are seeing hard times, but we must not lose hope or the determination to support each other and fight for a better country. America was founded on optimism and creativity, and we cannot lose those valuable traits even in the toughest times that call for continued patriotism and endurance.”
The unemployment rate in Virginia rose again in July, to 3.6 percent, the seventh consecutive increase in the Commonwealth’s unemployment rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month, Beyer's office noted in an earlier news release. Virginia’s 0.8 percent year-over-year unemployment rate increase is now the second fastest in the nation during that period, tied with Oregon and trailing only Mississippi. In the past 50 years, Virginia’s unemployment rate has only risen this sharply six times, all preceding or during nationwide recessions.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) declined in July, to 64.9 percent. Labor force participation in Virginia has declined every month since January, and 2025 has already seen the Commonwealth’s sharpest LFPR decline since the early months of the pandemic.
The BLS data likely downplays the state of Virginia’s labor market, as a significant portion of the federal workers and contractors who have lost their jobs are not yet reflected in government labor statistics because their departures officially take effect later in the year.
CNBC recently downgraded Virginia in its annual “Top State for Business” rankings to the lowest point in nearly a decade, specifically citing “federal job cuts.”
