Constituent concerns at Del. Patrick Hope’s Town Hall meeting on Saturday ranged from the current composition of the Arlington County Board to Dominion Power paying their fair share to the fate of the Medicaid program.

But most of the meeting was focused on the impact of Federal budget cuts on Virginia programs and the recent massive reductions in the Federal workforce. The group engaged in cheering and applause as the stories and comments unfolded.

Hope explained that one-third of Virginia’s budget comes from the Federal government: $14.6 billion in Medicaid, $1.4 billion each for highways, social programs and transportation. “Virginia is also the largest

Del. Patrick A. Hope (D-1) at a Town Hall meeting March 1 at Yorktown High School’s Patriot Hall. 

 

recipient of Federal contractor funds with $13.5 billion in Arlington and over $40 billion in Fairfax.”

Many of those who asked questions were, or are, currently Federal workers who shared their concerns about the impact of the recent reductions in the Federal workforce, with more to come. But as one of the final speakers, a 30-year resident of Arlington, expressed her extensive pain, “I’m concerned we’re preaching to the choir in this room. How do we tap into the people who must be having buyer’s remorse?”

Sarah Scheening, a former USAID small business contractor spoke to the group about her business which she lost in two weeks. She and the cofounder of their business loaned $380,000 in personal savings to pay their employees their salaries and their severance but are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government for work performed in 2024. The crowd gave her a loud round of applause. She said she is concerned about the reckless Federal backsliding and what’s coming for other agencies. She has a petition with almost 700 signatures that she sent to the Governor expressing their concern about the impact of the USAID reductions.

Another man asked the audience to forgive his emotion as he broke down in tears. “I hate what’s happening. I find myself sending letters to my Senators who agree but to the others, the letters just go in the waste can. To be told you can’t do your job is horrible.”

A native Arlingtonian who grew up in Halls Hill and whose father is the only remaining firefighter in the original Black fire station on Lee Highway said, “I don’t see too many people who look like me here. One of my four kids voted for him. I had to give them some history. What is happening to you masses has happened to my folks for years. We talk about this in the Black community. We’ve been there; I’m prepared but it will take this hurt for you to rise up.”

Hope explained that there had been a really good legislative session this year in Virginia but because of the current Federal actions, things are out of control. He said, “Everybody has a role to play — Congress, state, local and you being here today. You are as much of a public servant as I am.”

Hope explained that they just finished a 46-day session of the Virginia legislature but will probably reconvene. Hope says that if the Virginia budget is $200 million in the red that the Governor is required to put together a new budget in 20 days for reconsideration. Right now, Virginia has a substantial budget surplus.

Hope listed legislation that had been passed by the legislature and sent to the Governor raising the minimum wage, the assault weapons ban, the boyfriend loophole and legalizing retail marijuana as well as lifting the ban on collective bargaining by public employees. “But the governor is likely to veto all of them.  This governor’s legacy is that he has vetoed more legislation in two years than any other governor in four.”

Hope says the state has set up a special bipartisan committee on workforce reduction and has already had a hearing. “We are monitoring the situation because we want to know what we can do to support one another. My office has a special page on resources available, and we are helping process unemployment claims.” He said in addition there is state revenue that can be directed to businesses hiring former Federal employees.

One of the questioners who works in the legislative branch offered the information that there are some jobs available at Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, and the Library of Congress. Another newly retired employee of 51 years at the Library of Congress commented she hopes Trump doesn’t discover legislative branch agencies.

There was a lot of discussion about how to turn the current discontent into actionable steps. Several people asked, “How did we get here and how do we reach people who just don’t want to listen and who don’t know what’s going on right now.” One person mentioned being more aggressive and another that “we shouldn’t be so nice.”

Another suggested there was a lot of energy in the room and having a large group of people like the ones in the room strategically call the same representative or delegate on the same day with the same message. Another suggested pressuring the Governor and Lt. Governor. “I don’t see them having town halls.”

Another questioner, a former employee of the National Park Service now with his own business, shared that they fought a previous freeze by “beating up the Secretary of the Interior in the press. It worked.”

A retired Arlington County worker said, “We are communicating with 19th century tools; we need to combat what the Republicans are pushing out with social media, etc.”

Hope concluded by saying, “We’ve got to keep fighting. Consider this a contact sport. I want to hear from you. Let’s continue this conversation on my website.”