U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) expressed outrage over what he calls the “dismissal and mistreatment” of national security officials during a media availability with Virginia reporters on Wednesday (April 9).
The Virginia Democrat criticizes recent firings of high-ranking military and intelligence officials, including National Security Agency Director Tim Haugh and a senior American NATO general, attributing these decisions to the influence of “conspiracy theorist” Laura Loomer.
“I am outraged at the continual dismissal and mistreatment and frankly, ignorance around how this administration is dealing with national security,” Warner said during the remote availability from the Capitol.
Warner noted that the administration’s actions are damaging relationships with longtime allies, who he says are increasingly reluctant to share classified information with the United States.
“We are hearing on a regular basis that our 50-year, 70-year allies are not sure they can share classified information with us because they’re not sure that it’ll be kept secret,” Warner said. “And that hurts the safety of Americans.”
The senator also highlighted the recent approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for Southwest Virginia in response to February storms, which he says took too long to secure compared to neighboring states affected by the same weather events.
“We finally got the disaster declaration for Southwest Virginia for the February storms,” Warner said. “It was pretty disturbing that it took this long to get the declaration since a number of adjacent states had gotten theirs much earlier from the same group of storms.”
Warner expressed concern about the administration’s decision to lay off employees who monitor coal miners’ health, saying it contradicts Trump’s stated support for the coal industry.
“We’ve seen a series of firings at the organization that takes care of the health care of our miners,” Warner said. “That whole division just got fired. And so you have the hypocrisy of Trump saying on one hand he wants to help revive coal, but on the other hand literally taking away health care protections and safety of the miners who work underground.”
The senator devoted significant attention to the economic impacts of the administration’s trade policies, warning that the “global tariff war” is damaging international relationships and will likely hurt American consumers.
“The economic harm that’s being done by this global tariff war, we’re just starting to feel it,” Warner said. “Selected tariffs against China, absolutely. But that ought to be done in concert with our friends and allies around the world.”
He criticized the decision to impose tariffs on allies like Australia, with whom the U.S. has a trade surplus, while noting that Russia was exempted from the new tariffs.
“We are looking like an unreliable partner in national security. We’re looking like an unreliable trading partner,” Warner said. “The one country that didn’t get tariffs is Russia. Explain that to me.”
Warner predicted these policies will lead to price increases for American consumers and potentially trigger a recession, citing the consensus among economists.
“I think virtually every economist thinks we’re headed to a recession,” he said. “This will be felt by Virginians in their pocketbook. It’ll be felt in the retirement accounts going down.”
The senator also addressed the administration’s extension of the TikTok divestiture deadline, which he says violates congressional intent. Warner, who has long advocated for addressing national security concerns related to the Chinese-owned app, emphasized that any deal must address control of the algorithm.
“If the algorithm remains in Beijing, the whole deal structure is a sham,” Warner said.
In response to a question about the Department of Homeland Security ending collective bargaining for Transportation Security Administration workers, Warner expressed concern about potential impacts on air travel safety.
“The idea that this administration is going to come in without any reason and throw that agreement out. I understand why TSA workers are angry,” Warner said. “What this will mean if we don’t have TSA workers or they do a sick out… Americans’ safety in the skies could be implemented.”
Warner also addressed the Department of Energy’s withholding of a $100 million grant for a Micron plant in Pittsylvania County, saying the delay threatens the project and sends a “chilling message” to companies seeking economic development assistance.
“Virginia has helped. This is the Berry Plain Berry Farm site in Pittsylvania County. We’ve been working on this site for over a decade,” Warner said. “This was going to be the gem. 2,000 jobs. You take away $100 million and that plant very well may not be built.”
The senator concluded by acknowledging the challenges facing college graduates entering an uncertain job market, predicting that while students from institutions like the University of Virginia will find employment, the process may take longer due to economic uncertainty.
“This uncertainty is going to make it really tough for folks that graduate in May because I think everything is kind of in a frozen status for a while,” Warner said. “You’ll get a job, but it may take a little bit longer.”
