Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 1d

Trump’s RIFs are illegal, cruel, and will hurt our country

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 2d

I will do all I can to support and protect federal workers and contractors.

To those workers, I say again: you deserve so much better.

I know this is yet another dark moment in a dark year, but please do not lose hope.

The country still sees and values your service, and your work is not in vain.

4 13 58

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 2d

This Administration’s corruption is only matched by its willingness to sabotage our economy and raise prices for the American people.

Trump and Vought’s contempt for Congress' powers under the Constitution will make it harder to get a deal that can end this shutdown.

1 10 64

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 2d

A government shutdown does not require mass firings of federal workers, it forbids it.

Trump and Vought have fired federal workers by the thousands since the DOGE disaster.

Directing these firings during a shutdown violates the law, and the laws they are violating are criminal statutes.

1 6 36

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 2d

Illegally firing these workers will hurt essential services for the American people and damage our economy.

Vought is also further abusing power by corruptly freezing hundreds of energy infrastructure projects, which will kill even more jobs and raise electricity prices across the nation.

1 4 37

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 2d

The mass firings Russ Vought and the Trump Administration announced today are cruel and illegal, and are already being fought in court.

This is a disaster for Virginia, intentionally inflicted by President Trump and his Republican allies.

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 2d

Statement from @beyer.house.gov on President Trump's illegal mass firings of federal workers:
beyer.house.gov/news/documen...

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the U.S. House, issued the following statement today on illegal, unnecessary mass firings of federal workers announced by the Trump Administration and Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought:

“The mass firings Russ Vought and the Trump Administration announced today are cruel, illegal, and yet another attack on our economy. This is a disaster for Virginia, intentionally inflicted by President Trump and his Republican allies. These firings are also already being fought in court.

“This President is killing jobs at a disastrous rate, while forcing the continuation of a government shutdown that would end if he simply agreed to prevent skyrocketing health care price increases. Instead of doing that, however, Trump and Vought are illegally firing more workers, hurting essential services for the American people, and damaging our economy in Virginia and across the country. Vought is also further abusing power by corruptly freezing hundreds of energy infrastructure projects, which will kill even more jobs and raise electricity prices across the nation.

“Everyone should understand that a government shutdown does not require or enable mass firings of federal workers, in fact it forbids it. President Trump and Russ Vought have been firing federal workers by the thousands continuously since the beginning of the DOGE disaster, and as numerous Republicans have admitted, they plainly hoped to use the pretext of a shutdown to fire even more American workers. But directing these firings during a shutdown violates the law, and the laws they are violating are criminal statutes.

“This Administration’s corruption is only matched by its willingness to sabotage our economy and raise prices for the American people. Trump and Vought’s lawless contempt for Congress’ powers under the Constitution will also mak…

8 98 270

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 4d

When paychecks stop during a shutdown, bills don’t.

My Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act would allow our civil servants to tap retirement savings without penalty to get through tough times during a government shutdown. We owe them that much.
youtube.com/shorts/SR9Uh...

Don Beyer's Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act

YouTube video by Congressman Don Beyer

youtube.com

6 25 86

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 4d

Republican leaders are now saying they will keep the House in recess for the FOURTH week in a row as the shutdown drags on.

Instead of negotiating a deal to end the shut down, protect Americans' health care, and stop price increases, they're taking a month-long vacation.

13 39 120

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 5d

This Administration's own guidance and Speaker Johnson's website both state, correctly, that federal workers will receive retroactive pay "as required by law."

The Trump Administration is just trying to frighten people as a tactic to avoid negotiating in good faith. Despicable.

28 84

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 5d

Federal employees are guaranteed back pay at the end of any shutdown by law. This is not in question.

That law - the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act - passed nearly unanimously. Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune voted for it. Trump signed it.

Marc Caputo @marcacaputo.bsky.social · 6d

The conventional wisdom is that furloughed federal workers get backpay when the shutdown ends

But a draft White House memo says that’s not the case as the Trump admin considers ratcheting up the pressure on Senate Dems to end the shutdown

News here 👇

www.axios.com/2025/10/07/t...

Scoop: White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to backpay

A move to deny backpay to up to 750,000 furloughed workers would dramatically escalate Trump's pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown.

www.axios.com

8 28 93

Reposted by Congressman Don Beyer

ALXnow @alxnow.bsky.social · 7d

Beyer bill would let federal workers tap retirement funds without penalty during shutdown

Beyer bill would let federal workers tap retirement funds without penalty during shutdown | ALXnow

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer introduced legislation Friday that would allow federal employees to withdraw up to $30,000 from their retirement accounts without penalties during the ongoing government shutdown,...

www.alxnow.com

2 7 33

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 9d

House Republicans appear to be extending their vacation before and during the government shutdown through a third week.

I’ve never seen anything like it.

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 9d

🚨🚨The House reading clerk just read a letter from House Speaker Mike Johnson where he declares a 'District Work Period' from October 7 to October 13.

That would mean no votes in the House until mid-month.

38 180 500

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 9d

Trump and Republican leaders want to give Argentina a $20 billion bailout but won’t spend a penny to stop Americans' health care costs from skyrocketing.

“America first.”
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Trump set to bail out Argentina, irking some in ‘America First’ camp

The Trump administration is set to provide a $20 billion financial lifeline to Argentina, a move that has sparked controversy among some of his supporters.

www.washingtonpost.com

8 41 92

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 9d

I’ve put together a webpage where you can find resources to help you while portions of the government remain closed. It’s my hope that the resources provided below will address your questions and concerns.
beyer.house.gov/news/documen...

Beyer Shares Resources for Federal Workers and Contractors Impacted by the Republican Government Shutdown

U.S. Representative Don Beyer, who represents a Northern Virginia district with one of the highest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the country, today shared a webpage with resources to help federal workers and contractors as parts of the federal government remain closed following President Donald Trump and Republicans’ failure to negotiate a funding deal that would prevent Americans from losing their health care. More than 72,000 of Beyer’s constituents in Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District work directly for the government, and thousands more work as federal government contractors.

beyer.house.gov

4 29

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 9d

President Trump and Republicans have shut down the government because they refuse to enact a deal that protects Americans from skyrocketing health care cost increases.

I’ll keep working to end this shutdown, but please know that my office remains open and is here to help.

2 13 66

Reposted by Congressman Don Beyer

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 10d

Yeah. Because it's illegal.

Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown

The Trump administration has said mass firings are coming, but officials have quietly warned several agencies that the move could violate appropriations law.

www.washingtonpost.com

28 220 810

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 10d

Yesterday Trump and Vought announced they'll cancel infrastructure projects in states with Dem Senators. This is deeply corrupt.

Trump and Vought will raise electricity prices for millions of Americans and kill jobs including in districts represented by Republicans.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Damage from Trump's $8B energy hit list would spill into GOP districts

The department targeted 16 blue states when canceling financial awards for 223 energy projects. But both parties will feel the impact.

www.politico.com

10 74 170

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 10d

Russ Vought and Donald Trump claim they have new authority to continue and even increase their mass firings of federal workers during a shutdown.

Call it "DOGE 2.0."

But this is not true, not only do they not have more authority, they have less.

It is illegal, in fact.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10d

Exclusive: Senior federal officials have quietly counseled several agencies against firing employees while the government is shut down — as President Trump has suggested he will — warning the strategy may violate appropriations law. https://wapo.st/46wAomW

Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown

The Trump administration has said mass firings are coming, but officials have quietly warned several agencies that the move could violate appropriations law.

wapo.st

9 23 95

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 11d

Republicans are simply lying about this, again.

They are lying for a reason: 15 million people are going to lose health care because of the Republican tax law signed by Trump.

Many millions more are going to see huge health care cost increases very soon thanks to Republicans.

3 16 61

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 11d

Via the Associated Press -- FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to ‘illegal immigrants’
apnews.com/article/fact...

FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to 'illegal immigrants'

This is false. Democrats say they are pushing for the inclusion of key health care provisions in the next congressional spending package.

apnews.com

2 15 46

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 11d

More: Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democrats want to give free health care to ‘illegal aliens’ in government shutdown battle
www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/p...

1 8

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 11d

"Republicans have been falsely asserting that Democrats are shutting down the government to fund free health care for unauthorized immigrants."
nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...

"Unauthorized immigrants are largely barred from federally funded health care programs."

6 24 74

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 11d

G’mar Chatima Tova! As the Jewish community observes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, I wish you all a meaningful day of reflection – and an easy fast to those who are fasting.

3 6 38

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 12d

During my telephone town hall last night, a constituent asked if Members of Congress get paid during a shutdown.

I told her yes they do because of the 27th Amendment, but I will have mine withheld for the duration of a shutdown in solidarity with federal workers.

13 39 140

Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 12d

Donald Trump's "special military operation" in Venezuela is a terrible idea.

He's going from murdering people on boats without charges or due process to what sounds like regime change by military force.

A "President of peace" doesn't start new, unwise, and unnecessary wars.

Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · 13d

NEW: Sec. Rubio is leading a push to try to oust Maduro. The Pentagon has put 6,500 troops in the region and is drawing up possible operations against crime gangs in Venezuela. Opposition figures say they're talking to the US about plans. Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...

Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro From Power in Venezuela

www.nytimes.com

15 22 80