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Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity has endorsed efforts to shrink the federal workforce, putting the board’s only Republican at odds with every other county supervisor as thousands of local workers and contractors face uncertainty.
In a Feb. 10 statement, the Springfield District representative said he “fully” agrees that the federal government’s size and scope should be reduced. He argued that both federal and Fairfax County governments have pursued matters beyond their proper roles and built bureaucracies that do not serve residents effectively.
Herrity acknowledged that many government programs perform valuable work, but said others fail to meet their intended goals. He also said Fairfax County’s many federal employees and contractors deserve respect and gratitude for their service.
For residents experiencing an abrupt job transition, Herrity pointed to several county resources: Economic Development Authority job listings, employment resource centers, the Coordinated Services Planning hotline for help with food, housing and other basic needs, and mental health services.
Herrity said his position draws partly on his private-sector experience before joining the Board of Supervisors in 2007. His official biography says he served as a chief financial officer and chief operating officer for government contractors and technology companies.
He said he has managed reductions, restructurings and reorganizations intended to improve efficiency and lower costs. Although that work is difficult, Herrity said, it can be conducted while respecting employees’ service.
Herrity, who is campaigning for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, aligned himself with Virginia Republicans including Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
Asked which parts of the federal government should be eliminated, Herrity said every agency should be examined for inefficiencies and activities that do not support or effectively fulfill its mission. He added that he hopes decisions affecting federal employees and contractors are handled professionally.
Democratic supervisors warn of local economic damage
Herrity’s support for downsizing conflicts with the position of Fairfax County’s 11 other supervisors, all Democrats. In December, the board made opposition to significant federal workforce reductions a leading recommendation to Congress.
The board warned that deep cuts could devastate the local economy. Fairfax County is home to more than 50,000 federal employees, while businesses based there have obtained more than $38 billion in federal contracts.
Herrity voted against both the federal legislative package and the board’s priorities for the Virginia General Assembly.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, chair of the board’s legislative committee, criticized Herrity for supporting the administration’s actions. Walkinshaw said past Virginia Republican leaders had put partisan differences aside to defend federal workers and Fairfax County’s economy.
Walkinshaw pledged that the board would continue advocating for federal employees and working with the county’s congressional delegation to protect residents and the local economy.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay did not directly address Herrity’s statement but reiterated the county’s opposition to dramatic federal cuts in a Tuesday newsletter. He said the county remains committed to supporting affected workers and contractors.
Following a November directive from the board, county staff have tracked White House actions since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20 to assess their potential effects on local residents and policies.
McKay encouraged federal employees to seek updates from the county’s all-Democratic congressional delegation: Reps. Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer and Suhas Subramanyam, along with Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.
He acknowledged that Fairfax County has limited power to challenge the administration’s effort to reduce the federal government, but said county officials are coordinating with regional leaders and members of Congress on ways to protect residents.
White House orders agencies to plan major reductions
During its opening weeks, the Trump administration issued executive orders and memoranda intended to reduce federal operations. The measures included a return-to-office requirement, an attempted funding freeze that courts temporarily blocked, and the elimination of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The actions disrupted programs involving the military, housing, health, PBS and the Smithsonian Institution. More than 65,000 employees accepted deferred-resignation offers that were described as keeping them on the payroll through September, although the deadline remained suspended while awaiting a court decision.
Appearing with tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump signed another executive order Tuesday directing agencies to prepare plans for large-scale reductions and identify components that could be eliminated. The order included exceptions involving law enforcement, immigration and public safety.
The administration had also moved to close the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Connolly and other Democrats on the House oversight committee responded with a letter demanding that Trump stop removing nonpartisan civil servants. They warned that the reductions could severely affect people who depend on federal services and benefits.