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Virginia
Congressional hearing in Northern Virginia spotlights impact of deep government cuts – WTOP News
Several Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee held a hearing in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Thursday, taking a broad look at the impact DOGE had on the federal government.
The nation is more than a year removed from the start of President Donald Trump’s second administration, which came to D.C. with the idea of major cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The result, Democrats claim, is a hollowed out civil service system.
Several Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee held a hearing in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Thursday, taking a broad look at the impact DOGE had on the federal government.
“We know the Trump-Vance administration has taken a wrecking ball to our civil service and decimated the federal workforce,” Rob Shriver, the managing director of civil service and good government initiatives at Democracy Forward, said. “In so doing, it has harmed everyone in America who relies on essential government functions.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat representing California’s 42nd District and the ranking member of the committee, said a new report showed how DOGE failed to eliminate waste and its “incompetence” endangered federal workers and Americans as a whole.
The first months of the program, lead by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, saw the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, the decision to cancel the U.S. media agency Voice of America, the cancellation of thousands of government grants, contracts and programs and the departure of more than 300,000 federal employees and contractors in 2025.
The Trump administration has repeatedly defended DOGE and the changes, arguing they needed and have enhanced “efficiency” within the federal workforce.
But former and current federal employees testifying at the hearing say that’s hardly been the case. They point to figures from the Brookings Institute and others that show there are roughly three million federal employees today, and that is about the same size as it was 60 years ago, but the nation’s population has soared by more 100 million. They say they were already doing excellent work and at a high level of efficiency.
On its website, DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers upward of $200 billion initially. But some experts have pushed back, suggesting the savings are closer to between $1 billion and $7 billion, which is far lower than the $2 trillion Elon Musk said in 2025 that DOGE would save American taxpayers.
Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 11th District, said the cuts hit several critical agencies deeply.
“This administration has hollowed out the cybersecurity agency through RIFs (Reductions in Force) and politically driven reassignments, weakened NOAA by indiscriminately firing staff critical to public safety, and undermined our national security by dismantling USAID,” he said, noting the high number of federal workers who live in his district.
Many Republicans have defended DOGE saying government had grown too large, was bloated and was trying to do many missions the states should undertake.
But former GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock, who has become a vocal Trump Administration critic said the White House behavior and treatment of civil servants has been “egregious.”
“I apologize to you, as a Republican, for what has happened over the last year because it’s been so egregious and so traumatic,” Comstock said. “It’s the only promise kept by this administration.”
The more than two hour hearing included testimony from former federal employees, watchdog groups and others who described what they said were illegal activities, including the firing of the Inspector Generals and the disorganized way the job cuts were performed by DOGE.
Doreen Greenwald, the President of the National Treasury Employees Union testified how tens of thousand of federal employees who want to leave the government have been unable to get their retirements finalized and the process is taking three to four times as it normally does.
“Federal retirees are stuck in limbo as agencies slow walk their retirements, and once those make it to OPM (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), they are waiting six to nine months for their first annuity payment.”
But there was a small sliver of optimism among the speakers. They said Elon Musk is no longer in government and DOGE was officially disbanded in November 2025, instead of the summer of 2026.
Faith Williams, the director of the Effective and Accountable Government Program, Project on Government Oversight (POGO) said her group and others will be there to help rebuild what they say are the depleted government ranks.
“POGO has several solutions Congress can implement to restore the merit based civil service, strengthen whistleblower protections, protect inspectors general and other watchdogs, combat corruption, abuse of power and strengthen congressional oversight,” she said.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, who represents Maryland’s 4th District, a suburban area in Prince George’s County that is home to thousands of federal workers, said he believes there is a place in government for many of the employees who were let go.
“We’ve got cases that run the gamut of people in the government who’d been doing great work, who’ve been forced out. We’ve got to make sure we find ways to get them back so they can pick up where they left off,” Ivey said.
Ivey pointed to the hundreds, if not thousands of employees who were dismissed, only to be rehired weeks and months later, when government officials determined their positions were essential.
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Four new trollies will join the VB Wave Trolley fleet beginning May 10, when Virginia Beach Wave Trolley will resume its seasonal service along the oceanfront.
Trolley season lasts through September 25-27 for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival.
A total of 14 new trollies will be part of the fleet this year, gradually replacing the older versions. The 29-foot trolley replica buses seat 29 people and feature wooden seats, with “sky-blue and sand-colored brown exterior,” according to Hampton Roads Transit (HRTS). Last year, 281,507 riders used the trolley system.
“This year marks the 42nd season of the VB Wave trolley, and these new trollies will provide a comfortable, safe, and efficient ride for visitors and locals alike,” William E. Harrell said. He is the president and CEO of HRT. “As part of our partnership with the city of Virginia Beach, the VB Wave makes it easy for everyone to visit attractions and explore the Oceanfront and beyond without the hassles of parking or the high cost of gas,” Harrell said.
The following routes will operate May 10 through Sept. 27 for the Neptune Festival:
Route 30 is the Atlantic Avenue Trolley, running along the Oceanfront between JT’s Grommet Island Park to Fortieth Street. This service operates daily from 8 a.m.- 2 a.m.
Route 31 is the aquarium and campground trolley along General Booth Boulevard. It runs daily from 9:30 a.m.-11:10 p.m. through Labor Day and again on Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 11 through Sept. 27. Route 31 also extends to Atlantic Avenue and 18th Street.
Route 35 is the Bayfront Bus, providing service between Parks Avenue and 19th Street and Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road, enabling customers to visit Chesapeake Bay beaches, First Landing State Park, and Bayfront restaurants. It operates daily from 8 a.m.-12:30 a.m. through Labor Day and then Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from Sept. 11 through the Sept. 27 festival
The VB Wave trolley connects to HRT bus lines, Routes 20 and 960, with access to the Newtown Road Light Rail Station and the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Fares are $2 one way or $4.50 for an all-day pass. Kids 17 and under ride free with a paying adult. Riders can pay for tickets using HRT’s GoMobile app and a credit card. Riders can create and manage multiple virtual cards and reload value for easy group boarding, and need to have a unique scannable virtual card for boarding. Children are not required to scan a virtual card or pay fare when boarding with an adult.
Customers can also tap to pay using credit and debit cards. KOA Campground, Virginia Gift Shop, nine Sunsations locations, and Ocean Wave Gift Shop sell tickets. Riders can also pay with exact change cash onboard the trolley.
In addition, HRT is introducing a new route in Virginia Beach beginning May 10. The new Route 981 will connect the Amazon Fulfillment Center (ORF 4) at 1795 Dam Neck Road with the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Route 33 service is being restored to Atlantic Avenue and 68th Street 365 days a year to support the oceanfront hospitality industry.
Virginia
PHOTOS: Virginia Beach Police investigate firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach Police are at the scene of a firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments Saturday afternoon, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department also confirmed there are no shooting victims at this time.
10 On Your Side is at the scene and working to gather more information about the situation.
10 On Your Side will update this story when more information is available.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Democrats are not happy about a state Supreme Court decision declaring last month’s referendum to draw new congressional districts null and void.
Democrats, however, have filed a motion asking the Virginia Court to delay its 4-3 decision while they file an emergency appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
Virginia’s current map that favors Democrats by a narrow 6-5 margin will stay in effect for the midterms. Both sides, though, have a lot to say to say about today’s decision.
Two months ago, you couldn’t avoid the political ads and mailers on both sides of the issue.
“Everybody remembers we got a few million dollars worth of flyers in our mailboxes, and everything with redistricting that whole referendum has now been overturned by the court decision,” said Old Dominion University Associate Professor of Political Science Jesse Richman.
On April 21, Virginia voters approved redrawing congressional maps that would have given Democrats a 10-1 advantage, giving them a strong chance to pick up four additional seats in November.
More than two weeks later, the Virginia Supreme Court rendered the results null and void, saying the required constitutional processes were not followed before this was put up for a vote. So what does that mean for Virginians?
“As it is, we stay with the districts we have,” Richman said. “If [Democrat] Bobby Scott’s your representative, he’s still your representative. The lines aren’t moving. If [Republican] Jen Kiggans is your representative, [she’s] still your representative.”
Scott and Kiggans spoke to 10 On Your Side shortly after today’s decision.
“I’m disappointed,” Scott said. “People voted, three million people voted, it carried in 55 of the 100 House of Delegates districts, so the people spoke.”
“It’s a big day for Virginia today,” Kiggans said. “It’s a victory for the rule of law [and] it’s a victory for fairness.”
That split reaction has also been felt among voters, some even rallying in front of the Virginia Supreme Court. One of them was Hampton’s NAACP Branch President Gaylene Kanoyton.
“We have got to make sure that we mobilize and don’t let this get us down,” Kanoyton said. “We need to be energized.”
Virginia Democrats have vowed to fight Friday’s ruling, saying they intend to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I expect we’ll see more intense political campaigning in the midterms in this area because of the Supreme Court’s decision,” Richman said.
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