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Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is seeking an additional $300 million for the state’s rainy-day reserves as federal job cuts create economic uncertainty for thousands of workers across the commonwealth.

Youngkin announced Monday that he had proposed more than 200 amendments to the bipartisan budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month. His revisions include spending reductions intended to direct more money into Virginia’s reserves.

The proposed $300 million would come on top of nearly $295 million already scheduled to be set aside during the two-year budget period. Youngkin said the move would give Virginia a total cushion of $5 billion.

“It enables us to feel confident that if there is a bump in the road, we can deal with it,” he said.

The proposal follows unemployment claims from roughly 1,000 federal employees and contractors in Virginia since the end of January. The claims came as President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk began cutting federal jobs and programs in Washington.

Youngkin’s administration has also launched a jobs website and encouraged affected workers to consider other employment opportunities in Virginia.

“President Trump has been very, very clear, and he has not shied away from the fact that there could and may be economic disruption in the short term,” Youngkin said. “As he resets things in Washington, I agree with him that we will have long-term opportunity, and that is going to be good for Virginia.”

Before 2025, about 315,000 federal workers lived in Virginia, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The state had recently enjoyed strong economic conditions, including a multibillion-dollar budget surplus and more people moving into Virginia than leaving.

Still, some lawmakers acknowledged before ending their session that federal spending cuts could force them to revisit the budget. The Democratic-led legislature expanded an existing special session so lawmakers could reconvene later in the year.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, criticized Youngkin’s response following the governor’s announcement.

“We need a governor who will support Virginians,” Scott said in a statement, “not cave to Trump and Musk.”

Youngkin faced a Monday deadline just before midnight to sign, veto or propose changes to legislation approved earlier in the year. The budget bill adjusts the final year of Virginia’s two-year spending plan. Lawmakers were scheduled to consider his amendments and vetoes on April 2.

Rebates, immigration and school vouchers return

Youngkin said he would accept the legislature’s plan to provide every taxpayer with a $200 rebate, a proposal that received bipartisan support.

His original budget, introduced in December, instead called for permanent tax relief by eliminating taxes on tips and car taxes for lower- and middle-income residents. The House of Delegates and Senate rejected that proposal.

Lawmakers also removed Youngkin’s plan to withhold funding from local governments that do not fully cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They rejected his proposed $50 million Opportunity Scholarship program as well, which would offer private-school vouchers to families with low incomes.

Youngkin restored versions of both measures through his amendments, though he reduced the proposed scholarship funding to $25 million.

“Why not try it?” he said after arguing that the program could give lower-income families another educational option suited to their children.

The governor also proposed an amendment allowing the state to consider turning Oak Hill, former President James Monroe’s home, into a state park. Legislation seeking that designation failed during the General Assembly session.