Rep. James Walkinshaw has voiced strong concerns regarding the economic impact of President Donald J Trump's policies on Virginia families, citing the ongoing war in Iran, tariff policies, cuts to cybersecurity, and the withholding of global health funding.
Walkinshaw noted that six months into the President's war policies in Iran, Virginia households have paid an estimated $702 more for gasoline, nearly $100 above the national average. He also reported that tariff policies are making "everyday life is getting more expensive," a sentiment he heard repeatedly during August meetings across Fairfax with families, workers, and business owners. Walkinshaw criticized the administration's priorities, stating that "pouring money into a forever war while cutting health care and food assistance reflects the wrong set of priorities."
Walkinshaw also raised alarms about the Trump administration’s "DOGE policies" which have led to the departure of nearly 1,000 employees from the nation's top civilian cybersecurity agency, with proposals to eliminate 900 more positions. He led a group of Homeland Security Committee Democrats in requesting an independent review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess the impact on cyber defenses. Walkinshaw said he would "keep working to strengthen our cybersecurity workforce and hold the Trump administration accountable for policy decisions that put that mission at risk."
Furthermore, Walkinshaw condemned the administration's decision to withhold over $3 billion in congressionally approved funds for global health programs, including those addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. He led a bicameral coalition of more than 130 lawmakers in demanding the immediate release of these funds, warning that "withholding this funding threatens lives, discards years of public-service expertise, and weakens America’s credibility and influence." The administration has indicated approximately $1.35 billion would cover costs associated with closing USAID.
Locally, Walkinshaw informed constituents about upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes for some noncitizen adults in Virginia, effective October 1, and detailed his community engagements with healthcare teams, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, StarKist employees, and infrastructure workers at Parsons and Buckeye Partners. He emphasized that these visits inform his work in Congress to improve healthcare, protect federal expertise, and understand the impact of federal decisions on local communities.