Press Releases

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced that August revenues increased 2.8 percent compared to last August. On a fiscal year-to-date basis through the first two months of Fiscal Year 2027, collections have grown 5.4 percent. Growth has been driven by strong sales tax receipts. Compared to the official forecast, revenues are ahead of expectations by 1.8 percent.

“Revenue remains generally in line with our forecast through the first two months of the fiscal year, though continued national economic uncertainty means we must stay vigilant,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “With high costs driven by the President’s reckless war and an uncertain labor market remaining areas of concern nationwide, particularly given persistently high inflation, we will continue to responsibly manage the Commonwealth’s finances. Our disciplined fiscal approach will make sure Virginia is prepared to navigate any future challenges as we focus on lowering costs for families, strengthening our business climate, and bringing continued investment to every region of Virginia.”

In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia are to be flown at half-staff on all local, state, and federal buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of the nearly 3,000 innocent people killed in the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. I join Virginians in honoring Patriot Day and remembering our fellow Americans who never returned home that day, the families who continue to carry the burden of that loss, and the profound stories of courage and heroism that emerged in the face of unimaginable tragedy. We honor the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who rushed toward danger at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the heroic passengers and flight attendants aboard Flight 93 who prevented another attack, and the countless Americans who came together, comforted strangers, and answered the call to serve our nation and fight terrorism.

I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Friday, September 11, 2026, and remain at half-staff until sunset.

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced the appointment of Andrea Fletcher to serve as Director of the Virginia Digital Service — a new state team focused on modernizing state government, improving websites and systems, and saving taxpayers money by preventing bad state contracts.

The Virginia Digital Service will bring together an advanced team of engineers, designers, and technical experts to make sure technology is being used effectively, and taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently, to improve the lives of Virginians. Governor Spanberger proposed the Digital Service in an amendment to Virginia’s bipartisan budget — after uncovering that the Commonwealth had lost $52 million in taxpayer dollars on a failed IT project under the previous administration.

September 3, 2026 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer, who represents a Northern Virginia district that is home to many of the former U.S. Agency For International Development (USAID) employees who were fired by President Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE through no fault of their own last year, spoke yesterday evening on the House floor on the short- and long-term impacts of dismantling the United States’ largest foreign assistance agency.

Along with Representative Beyer, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Brad Sherman (D-CA) spoke in support of restoring funding to the critical agency, and rehiring the dedicated civil servants who provided essential supplies and assistance to people around the world.

WASHINGTON – Following President Trump’s latest tariffs, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and 12 of their Senate colleagues introduced the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump’s newest barrage of tariffs, and rein in the president’s tariff authority by repealing the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump’s newest global tariffs of 10­–12.5 percent and 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of imports from Canada.

Since Trump has started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump’s tariff tax cost the average family nearly $2,000, with hardworking Americans bearing 96 percent of the cost of the hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs. Still, Trump has been undeterred by the chaos and pain his trade war has wrought and continues to double down on the global stage.

RICHMOND — As families and friends gear up for final summer adventures, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) encourages motorists to plan ahead, stay alert and keep safety top of mind throughout the Labor Day holiday weekend.

VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, Sept. 4, until noon on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The Virginia Lottery has received reports of individuals offering Virginians money in exchange for personal information while claiming or implying a connection to the Virginia Lottery.

This is not a Virginia Lottery program.

In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of Dolly Parton.

We honor Dolly Parton not only for her extraordinary contributions to music and culture, but also for her enduring commitment to children throughout the Commonwealth. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, she has helped foster a lifelong love of reading among our youngest Virginians. Her generosity has expanded opportunity for countless children and strengthened communities across the Commonwealth. Our prayers are with her family during this difficult time.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND & DELAWARE — August 18, 2026 — Mr Wash Car Wash, a leading locally owned car wash company serving Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, today announced a back-to-school thank-you to the region’s educators. In honor of the new school year, Mr Wash is offering free exterior Extra Shine car washes to all teachers, school administrators, faculty, and school staff.On Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21, 2026, school employees can visit any of Mr Wash’s 11 locations to receive a complimentary Extra Shine car wash. To redeem, simply present a valid school ID.

“Teachers and school staff make an incredible impact in our communities every day, and we’re proud to show our appreciation by offering them a complimentary car wash,” said Evan Harris, President of Mr Wash Car Wash. “It’s a simple way for our team to say thank you and help them begin the school year with a fresh start.”

ARLINGTON, Va. – August 2026 – The Plaza at Mason Square is excited to kick off its Fall 2026 season with free weekly programs and special events designed to bring the George Mason University and greater Arlington communities together. All activities are located at the George Mason University’s Arlington Campus, The Plaza and The Haven at FUSE provide welcoming spaces for the community and students. For the fall programming, we are separating the Plaza and the Haven schedules, and the Haven will return in November.

Fall programming at The Plaza at Mason Square will run from August 31 through October 30, 2026. All activities are free and open to the public!

(Forestville, Maryland) August 11th, 2026 – Today, ATU Local 689 members have flyered Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) MetroBus garages and routes to let members know that it is unsafe to comply with management’s bus fare quotation policy. We will continue to encourage our members to exercise their rights and demand safe working conditions.

Back in May when this policy was hastily rolled out over union objections, Local 689 stated that this policy would lead to an increase in fare disputes. As WMATA’s own publications have repeatedly said, “More than two thirds of all bus operator assaults are the result of a fare dispute.”

U.S. Representative Don Beyer, Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its July 2026 jobs report, which found that the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July with previous job gains in May and June revised down by a combined 103,000 lower than previously reported. While the unemployment level edged down to 4.1 percent, that decline came as labor force participation fell again to 61.4 percent – its lowest level since February 2021 – with another 264,000 Americans leaving the workforce entirely.

“Today’s jobs report is deeply alarming and offers some of the clearest evidence yet that President Trump’s policies are doing serious damage to the American economy. Job creation has effectively ground to a halt, and businesses simply are not hiring at the pace a healthy economy demands. Wages tell the same troubling story: wage growth slowed to just 3.2 percent, its weakest pace in five years, while inflation has surged to 3.5 percent.