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With Anderson likely heading to D.C., Republican Party of Virginia could pick a new chair next month

Published

7 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Staff Editor

virginiamercury.com – Charlotte Rene Woods – 2025-03-12 14:12:00

With Anderson likely heading to D.C., Republican Party of Virginia could pick a new chair next month

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury
March 12, 2025

Republican Party of Virginia chairman Rich Anderson has been tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as the assistant secretary of the Air Force, and the party could select his successor next month.

RPV executive director Ken Nunnenkamp said the central committee members of the party could vote as early as April 12, when their next meeting is scheduled. Meanwhile, Anderson awaits the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee’s confirmation hearing and U.S. Senate vote to officialize his federal role. With Republicans dominating Congress, he likely will be confirmed.

So far, only longtime state Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, has announced his intention to chair the party. His announcement also comes with endorsements from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares. With Youngkin’s term coming to a close, Earle-Sears is running for governor and Miyares is seeking another term as the state’s top lawyer.

If chosen, Peake said he would “jump in immediately” to support statewide and House of Delegates candidates that are on the ballot this year.

“I’ve been in politics for a pretty good while now,” Peake said in a Wednesday call with The Mercury. “I’m from a ruby red district, but I try to get along with all parts of the Republican Party.”

Peake shared that his inspiration to seek the RPV chair rolestems from his experience in the legislature during the Democratic trifecta of 2020 and 2021, when Democrats had majorities in both the House and Senate as well as a governor from their party.

Those majorities ushered in a series of law changes, many of which opposed Republican or conservative ethos. As RPV chair Peake hopes to bolster the statewide ticket and help Republicans regain control of the House of Delegates.

The chamber is crucial to both parties this year. For Republicans, it’s a counterweight to the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is not up for election until 2026.

For Democrats, retaining the House is paramount to continue passage of constitutional amendments that would enshrine reproductive rights, voting rights and same-sex marriage rights into the state’s constitution.

While the efforts to restore voting rights to people who have completed prison sentences for felony convictions and to remove a same-sex marriage prohibition from the constitution advanced with bipartisan support, the reproductive rights measure passed because of the Democratic majority. Those bills have to pass again before appearing on statewide ballots for final approval or rejection.

The party that holds the governor’s office can signal which legislative efforts are most likely to be signed into law. While the Senate is not up for grabs this year, Peake stressed his passion to help Republicans gain grounds in other areas.

The Democratic Party of Va. will pick a new leader this month. Here are the candidates’ platforms.

His bid to chair the party comes as the Democratic Party of Virginia will soon select a new chair following current chair Susan Swecker’s announcement that she’s stepping down. DPVA will choose among three contenders later this month that include Zack Pruckowski, a member of DPVA’s steering committee, activist and DPVA organizer Josh Stanfield and Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico.

Like Bagby, if Peake were to chair his party, he does not plan to step away from his role as a state senator.

An often vocal member of the chamber, Peake said that he’d apply his outgoing nature to his role as RPV chair.

“I think that’s part of being chairman,” he said. “You’ve got to get out there and talk to people and get them motivated.”

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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

The post With Anderson likely heading to D.C., Republican Party of Virginia could pick a new chair next month appeared first on virginiamercury.com

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Employees react to Department of Education cuts | NBC4 Washington

News from the South - Virginia News Feed

Employees react to Department of Education cuts | NBC4 Washington

Published

16 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – NBC4 Washington – 2025-03-12 05:22:27

SUMMARY: The Department of Education has announced massive layoffs, letting go of about half its staff, approximately 2,200 employees, due to a reduction in force. Employees received emails notifying them of their termination, which has sparked frustration and fear among staff. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized that the layoffs aim to improve efficiency and accountability. Many employees expressed feelings of betrayal, stating that they contribute valuable services. Those affected will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, along with severance based on their tenure. Regional offices in several major cities will also face closures.

News4’s Walter Morris spoke to Education Department employees amid an announcement that the department will cut nearly half its workforce.
Correction (Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 6 a.m.): The Department of Education said offices will be closed Wednesday and reopen Thursday. An earlier version of this article said offices would stay closed through Thursday. This story has been updated.

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News from the South - Virginia News Feed

Kaine pushes bill to reverse veteran layoffs, slams Trump’s federal workforce policies

Published

17 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Staff Editor

virginiamercury.com – Markus Schmidt – 2025-03-12 04:29:00

Kaine pushes bill to reverse veteran layoffs, slams Trump’s federal workforce policies

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
March 12, 2025

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is one of three Democratic lawmakers spearheading a legislative effort to reinstate thousands of veterans who were fired from federal jobs as part of President Donald Trump administration’s mass layoffs of government employees.

Kaine, whose home state of Virginia has one of the highest populations of veterans in the country, introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act alongside U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Andy Kim, D-NJ, in an effort to reverse what they called an indiscriminate and unfair dismissal of those who have served.

The proposal comes in response to layoffs through billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that disproportionately affected veterans, who make up nearly 30% of the federal workforce. According to federal data compiled by Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, DOGE has fired more than 6,000 veterans from federal positions.

“President Trump has fired more veterans in his first few weeks in office than any U.S. President. This is unacceptable,” Kaine said in a statement. “These men and women have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, and now they are being kicked to the curb by a president who has previously called service members and veterans losers and suckers.”

Kaine has been one of the most vocal critics of Trump’s federal workforce policies, particularly those affecting veterans. Last week, he invited Fairfax resident Jason King, a disabled veteran fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division, as his guest to Trump’s joint address to Congress to highlight the issue.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act seeks to reinstate veterans who lost their jobs in these layoffs, ensuring they regain access to stable employment and benefits. Additionally, it mandates the White House submit a quarterly report to Congress detailing the number of veterans removed from the federal workforce and providing justifications for their dismissals.

The legislation has gained the support of several Senate Democrats, including Dick Durbin, Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., Mark Kelly, D-Az., Amy Klobuchar, D-Mn., and Cory Booker, D-NJ, among others. In the House, a companion bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Derek Tran, D-Ca.

Co-sponsor Duckworth, a combat veteran, has also strongly condemned the firings, saying that veterans deserve opportunities to transition into the civilian workforce without fear of politically motivated dismissals.

Several advocacy groups have also lined up behind the bill. VoteVets, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AMVETS, the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have all endorsed the legislation, calling the mass dismissals an injustice to those who have served.

“Firing veterans who perform essential duties isn’t government efficiency, it’s cruel,” VoteVets said in a statement. “Service members deserve opportunities to transition back into the workforce and should be guaranteed support — not the added stress of unemployment.”

Virginia, home to the Pentagon, multiple military bases, and one of the largest veteran populations in the country, has been particularly affected by the federal layoffs. Many veterans in the state take on federal civilian jobs as a continuation of their public service, making job security in the sector a critical issue for Virginia’s economy.

The AFGE, which represents federal workers, blasted the mass firings and called for urgent action.

“We should be celebrating Americans willing to wear a second uniform in service to their country. Instead, they are being treated to insults, chaos, and pink slips,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement.

With strong backing from veterans’ organizations and Democratic lawmakers, the legislation now faces the challenge of gaining bipartisan support in a divided Congress. Its fate will likely depend on whether Kaine and his co-sponsors can convince Republican colleagues that reinstating these veterans is a necessary step in honoring their service and stabilizing the federal workforce.

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The post Kaine pushes bill to reverse veteran layoffs, slams Trump’s federal workforce policies appeared first on virginiamercury.com

News from the South - Virginia News Feed

NTSB calls for safety changes near DCA | NBC4 Washington

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – NBC4 Washington – 2025-03-11 18:31:16

SUMMARY: The NTSB has issued urgent safety recommendations following a deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport in January that killed 67 people. The NTSB revealed that helicopters and airplanes were operating dangerously close, with over 1,500 reported close proximity incidents between 2021 and 2024. They recommend prohibiting helicopters from flying near Runway 33 during takeoffs and landings and finding an alternative route for them. These recommendations aim to prevent future collisions at the airport. The NTSB is also considering changes to flight frequencies, though no immediate restrictions on plane numbers have been proposed.

The NTSB said in its investigation into the deadly midair collision, it discovered helicopters are regularly flying as close as 75 feet away from some planes approaching DCA. News4’s Adam Tuss explains what happens next.
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