RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF), a federal-state partnership established by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat transnational organized crime, gang violence and immigration violations across Virginia passed 500 arrests this week, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Monday.
Of those 521 total arrests made since the operation started on February 25, 132 individuals are affiliated with gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, other transnational organized crime (TOC) organizations and criminal gangs.
April 9, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today ripped the “logic” of President Trump’s insane tariff regime to shreds today during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Trump’s trade policy with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
During the course of his testimony, Greer repeatedly advocated for increased tariffs on top U.S. trading partners – tariffs Trump abruptly paused during the hearing. Greer, who ostensibly serves as Trump’s top adviser on trade policy, obliviously continued to defend the paused tariffs to members of the Committee for some time until he was informed of the sudden change.
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressmen Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced the No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act, a bill that will end taxpayer subsidies for the construction of professional sports stadiums. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“Congress is sometimes criticized for providing special tax breaks for wealthy individuals and when it comes to sports stadiums, it is true. We should no longer allow provisions that were intended to help local communities build infrastructure, like roads, be abused to help subsidize multi-billion dollar sports franchises and owners. Hardworking Americans should not be forced to finance billion-dollar sports stadiums,” said Grothman. “Sports infrastructure brings value to communities. But, just like most government programs, we must be intellectually honest and question the need for tax dollars to subsidize projects. If a billion-dollar stadium is worth the investment, the builder should seek those investments in the free market instead of demanding discounted rates courtesy of taxpayers.
RICHMOND, VA – Attorney General Jason Miyares today issued a consumer alert regarding 23andMe’s bankruptcy filing and the rights Virginians have concerning their genetic data.
23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company that collects and analyzes consumers’ genetic information, announced its bankruptcy filing in a press release on March 23, 2025. The company stated that it intends “to commence a process to sell substantially all of its assets” while continuing to operate “in the ordinary course throughout the sale process.” According to the release, there are no planned changes to how the company stores, manages, or protects customer data.
RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia education leaders expressed support for the Executive Order issued by President Donald J. Trump returning education to the states. The Executive Order directs U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take all steps within her authority to return education to the states and requires her to ensure all recipients of federal education dollars are properly following all federal civil rights laws and administration policy, effectively ending all taxpayer support for “DEI” and institutions that use race and sex as a deciding factor in policies and procedures.
“Virginia is ready to take full responsibility for K-12 education. We have implemented a high-expectations agenda that sets rigorous standards, holds schools accountable for results and prioritizes resources to the students and schools that need the most support,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We welcome the federal government’s shift of responsibility to the states—and we are grateful that President Trump’s executive order does just that. The EO also makes it clear that there will be no discrimination in the classrooms. We will continue to ensure every student graduates career-, college-, or military-ready.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that Virginia state Del. Adele McClure is a nominee for the 2025 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement:
“State Del. Adele McClure is a groundbreaking public servant who overcame adversity to become a fierce voice for working families in the Virginia state House. When the fate of our country hangs in the balance, it is critical that we have women like state Del. McClure in office who champion legislation protecting reproductive rights, making housing and child care more affordable, and protecting our freedoms. EMILYs List is excited to nominate state Del. McClure for the 2025 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, and we look forward to watching her continue her impactful work for Virginians.”
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert of the Eastern District of Virginia along with federal and state partners announced today the recently established Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF), an interagency group founded to combat transnational organized crime and coordinate ongoing immigration enforcement efforts across Virginia. In the two weeks since the VHSTF’s creation on March 3, task force members have arrested 223 individuals.
Hundreds of personnel are supporting the task force, including representatives from U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI’s Washington, Norfolk, and Richmond Field Offices; Homeland Security Investigations; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; Virginia Department of Corrections; Virginia Office of the Attorney General; Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security; Virginia State Police; and the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
Tysons. VA, March 11 — Preparing to combat that time of the year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (45%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRideⓇ program will be in operation each evening (4:00 pm to 4:00 am) from Saturday, March 15th through Monday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period.
March 10, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today announced that he will oppose the Republican appropriations bill scheduled for a vote in the House later this week. The partisan measure cuts funding for veterans’ medical benefits, evicts 32,000 households from their homes, and cuts funding for critical medical research, while failing to incorporate guardrails to ensure money is not shut off, only spent in Republican districts, or repurposed. The bill was introduced against a backdrop of a Musk-Trump Administration impounding federal funds previously appropriated by Congress, while conducting a political purge of the federal workforce, both in obvious violation of law.
Beyer said:
Rep. Beyer today issued the following statement on ICE activities in Northern Virginia this week:
“We must be able to enforce the law and protect the public without creating a climate of fear. This week’s ICE enforcement activities in Northern Virginia were designed to instill fear and generate photo ops for Secretary Noem, not to make us safer.
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia district in the U.S. House that includes National Airport (DCA), today delivered floor remarks during debate on House Resolution 153, “Expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25, and for other purposes.” The legislation passed without objection on a voice vote.
Beyer’s remarks follow below.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott, Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam and Eugene Vindman (all D-VA) urged President Trump to halt any proposal that would alter the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) without congressional consultation and approval.
“We write to express our great concern regarding reports that you intend to dissolve the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) bipartisan Board of Governors and move the independent agency under the control of the Department of Commerce. The Postal Service plays a crucial role in keeping our communities, especially in our rural areas, connected to each other and to the wider world. From delivering prescription medications and household goods, to election ballots, paychecks, and critical bills, USPS continues to be an essential part of Americans’ everyday lives. However, press reports indicate you are planning to upend over 50 years of Congressionally-mandated independence at USPS with no clear strategy for continuing essential mail delivery services or achieving financial sustainability,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President Trump. “We urge you to cease the advancement of any proposal that would alter the USPS without congressional consultation and approval.”
