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Warner: Trump’s foreign aid cuts hand China global influence ‘for pennies on the dollar’
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) sharply criticized the Trump administration’s successful effort to cut $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, warning that the reductions will damage America’s global influence and national security interests. Speaking to Virginia media Thursday (July 17), Senator Warner said the Senate’s late-night passage of what’s known as a rescission package represents a dangerous retreat from decades of American leadership worldwide. The legislation strips about $8 billion from foreign assistance programs and more than $1 billion from public broadcasting.
Youngkin touts Va. record in Iowa, land of presidential hope
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) made a campaign-style visit to the Iowa state GOP Thursday night — a logical first step toward a 2028 presidential run, though he insisted his full attention is focused on finishing his term as governor. “The invitation is humbling. … It is just a wonderful Iowa trait for you all to be so warm in the way you greeted me,” Youngkin said to a crowd of several hundred as the featured guest speaker for the Iowa Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Dinner. With its traditional first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses every four years, Iowa usually plays a leading role in selecting the party’s presidential contenders.
Virginia public media stations brace for impact of federal funding cuts
A bill granting a White House request to claw back $9 billion in federal spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid will likely shutter at least 80 NPR and PBS member stations nationwide, according to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. The rescission package, which the US Senate passed Thursday morning, withdraws all funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, leaving even stations that remain operational scrambling to restore their budgets. ... Bert Schmidt, president and CEO of WHRO, says the Norfolk-based station will lose $2 million in federal funding.
Immigration arrests have surged 470% in Virginia so far this year — with majority now having no criminal record
Immigration arrests have skyrocketed across the DMV region since President Donald Trump's inauguration, and a new WUSA9 analysis shows an increasing share of those arrests are of people with no criminal history beyond their status in the country. Arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maryland have jumped 290% year-over-year, while Virginia has seen a staggering 470% increase, according to WUSA9's analysis of ICE data from the Deportation Data Project. Washington D.C. has also experienced rising numbers, though not to the dramatic extent seen in Maryland and Virginia.
U.S. DOJ launches employment discrimination probe into George Mason University
The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday said it had launched an employment discrimination probe into George Mason University in Virginia, making it the latest college to be targeted by the Trump administration. The civil rights probe will examine whether George Mason, a state university, "is engaged in discriminatory practices" based on race and sex, the department said. It said the investigation was spawned by comments made by George Mason's president and policies "which indicate that race and sex are motivating factors in faculty hiring" in order to achieve diversity goals.
Trump administration expands scrutiny of George Mason University
The U.S. Justice Department announced an investigation into the alleged use of race in hiring and promotions at George Mason University on Thursday, adding to a recent string of Trump administration probes into the institution. The investigation is the third launched by the administration in recent weeks into the policies and practices at the Northern Virginia university, and the first inquiry into the school led by the Justice Department. The escalating scrutiny follows a pattern that recently played out at the University of Virginia and comes amid the administration’s broader efforts to reshape American higher education.
Spanberger: ‘Don’t fret’ response to massive job losses in Virginia under Trump won’t cut it for me
Virginians recently learned that our commonwealth has lost our spot as "America’s Top State for Business." One major factor was singled out as leading to the downgrade — the widespread economic impact of DOGE’s attacks on the jobs of thousands of Virginians. I’ve always supported responsible efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse — as well as corruption. In the U.S. House of Representatives, I even led the bipartisan push to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks. I believe that our leaders have a responsibility to restore trust in our government, make sure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently, and keep more money in people’s pockets.
Virginia hospitals receive $8.5 million in grants for violence intervention programming
Virginia hospitals that provide wraparound services and care for violently injured people will receive millions in grant funding for the next two years to support their programs, officials announced this week. Hospital-based violence intervention programs bring trauma-informed care and resources to patients in the hospital while they are recovering physically from violence-induced injuries. ... The $8.5 million dollar funding stems from Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services.
2 western Va. counties chosen for flood warning systems
As the death toll continues to climb and questions persist about whether there were adequate warnings of catastrophic flooding in Texas on July 4, pilot flooding emergency warning systems have been deployed in two flood-prone counties in western Virginia. Buchanan County, which is mountainous and has had three major flooding events over four years, and Botetourt County, which has dealt with flash flooding, were chosen for the projects.
Newport News’ sheriff says his office doesn’t honor ICE detainers
The first time President Donald Trump took office, Gabe Morgan was a decade into his role as Newport News sheriff and leading the Virginia Sheriff’s Association. It was his job to help create a consensus on how 123 sheriffs across the commonwealth would handle a growing desire to crack down on illegal immigration. “Depending on where you may be the sheriff, politically, it was kind of like herding cats,” Morgan said.