Virginia helping prepare federal workers for their job losses

As the federal government is dismantled by an executive branch that insists they have the sole authority to do so, the Commonwealth of Virginia is offering ways for laid-off, fired, and displaced workers to continue on with their lives.

Last week, Governor Youngkin announced a Federal Worker Support Resource Package to assist people who will most likely lose their jobs if courts rule in favor of President Trump on issues such as impoundment.

This includes a central portal for all resources available which is available here.

This is in addition to the creation of a portal called VirginiaHasJobs.com. There is a virtual job fair on March 5 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

There is a section on the page that offers resources for impacted federal workers. The website tells would-be employees to forget the way they worked in the recent past.

“If you are a former Federal employee looking to transition to the private sector, you may want to consider updating your resume to translate your detailed government job duties and accomplishments into industry terminology, avoiding overly technical jargon or acronyms, action-oriented statements that highlight relevant skills and achievements, using common industry terminology, and generally shortening the length to fit a standard 1-2 page resume format while still emphasizing key qualifications for the desired civilian role,” reads the website.

Federal employees are also told to remove references to federal classification and told how to translate their previous experiences.

A group called Enroll Virginia is part of the package and is offering to assist with securing new health coverage. One option is through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace which allows new enrollments if someone is fired or laid off from their job.

“We encourage people to reach out as soon as they know they will need to change their health insurance,” said Deepak Madala, Enroll Virginia’s executive director. “Because the enrollment period is limited to 60 days, that’s the best way to make sure you don’t experience any gaps in your health coverage. Navigators are here to provide step-by-step guidance to make sure you can find the best coverage for you and have uninterrupted access to the health care you need.”

Last night, President Trump appeared before Congress for the first time of this presidency and the first since his second impeachment for citing insurrection on January 6, 2021. The Senate acquitted Trump on a single charge in February 2021.

Senator Tim Kaine has invited Jason King to attend the speech. King is a disabled veteran who was recently fired from a position at the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Veterans make up 30 percent of the federal workforce, and I remain committed to supporting them and their families,” Kaine wrote in a press release sent out this morning. “That’s why Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and I demanded the Trump Administration immediately reinstate the estimated 6,000 veterans who were fired during the mass terminations of federal employees and demanded veterans receive their full benefits and back pay.

It is unclear what response, if any, the Trump administration had.

The Youngkin administration does acknowledge that many veterans are now out of work.

“If you are a Virginian with a disability, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) can connect you to meaningful careers and job training programs in high-demand, high-growth industries,” reads a special page set up for veterans.

Before you go: This story was sent out originally in the March 4, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. There may come a time in the future when stories are posted concurrently, but that point is not now. This is all part of Town Crier Productions, a one-person small business that intends to cover as much about government as possible. Support through Patreon or consider taking out an advertisement!