federal workers

Published July 21, 2026 at 8:30AM

Systems Planning & Analysis employee at the Alexandria headquarters (courtesy of SPA)

As federal reductions have caused uncertainties for federal contractors, one Alexandria-based firm feels confident about its future.

Systems Planning & Analysis, located in the West End near the Mark Center, has been headquartered in the city since its 1972 founding. Its more than 3,000 employees worldwide work with clients from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, federal intelligence and other agencies to deliver mission engineering, advanced analytics, operational insights, and technology solutions.

News

Alexandria congressional candidate weighs in on federal firings in ‘Daily Show’ segment

By Emily Leayman

Published June 18, 2026 at 9:15AM

Michael Duffin is running for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District seat (via Michael Duffin for Congress)

Michael Duffin, a fired State Department worker from Alexandria who is running for Congress, appeared on “The Daily Show” Tuesday to discuss federal workforce reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Duffin, who lives in the West End with his wife and two children, was one of more than 1,300 federal workers fired by the State Department in July 2025. The Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District joined Maryland congressional candidates Alexis Goldstein and Tracy Starr and New York candidate Alissa Ellman in “The Daily Show” segment on fired federal workers’ campaigns.

News

Alexandria’s unemployment outlook improves, yet regional retention challenges remain

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 8, 2026 at 9:15AM

Panelists Taylor Chess, Jason Stanford, Ryan McLaughlin and Terry Clower at June 3, 2026, forum on the region’s economy (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Alexandria’s unemployment rate in April was its lowest in nearly a year, but the region still faces ongoing headwinds in keeping both jobs and workers in place, according to a panel of experts.

With 96,031 city residents counted in the civilian workforce and 3,088 looking for jobs, the city’s unemployment rate of 3.1% in April was the lowest since 3% in June 2025, according to figures reported June 3 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

News

Alexandria’s unemployment rate eases but remains elevated in new data

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 5, 2026 at 9:15AM

Help wanted sign (photo by Eric Prouzet/Unsplash)

Though still up more than 50% from the final days of the Biden administration, the total number of Alexandria residents recorded as unemployed in February was the second lowest over the preceding year.

A total of 3,323 city residents were counted as seeking jobs in February data reported last week by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

News

D.C. region’s federal workforce reaches lowest level since 1990, analysis says

By Emily Leayman

Published April 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

The US Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The D.C. region’s federal workforce has reached its lowest level since 1990 under cuts pursued by the Trump administration, according to a new economic analysis from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The D.C. metropolitan area lost 62,100 federal jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, putting the region’s federal workforce — approximately 313,700 — at its lowest level since 1990, according to the COG report.

News

Alexandria’s unemployment rises nearly 34% year over year in latest data

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 20, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Unemployment among city residents rose by one-third year over year to start 2026, according to new state data.

A total of 3,656 Alexandria residents were reported as seeking jobs in January, according to figures released April 16 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

News

Private job losses tied to federal reductions pose concern in Alexandria, expert says

By Emily Leayman

Published March 12, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Private sector job losses linked to federal reductions and economic uncertainty are a top concern for City of Alexandria and its regional counterparts, according to a presentation given to City Council Tuesday.

The presentation, based on the DMV Monitor project created in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, looked at federal job losses under President Donald Trump’s administration, its ripple effect on the private sector and other regional economic trends.

News

House passes bill to end government shutdown, sending measure to Trump

By The Associated Press

Published November 12, 2025 at 8:56PM

The Capitol is seen at dusk as Democrats and Republicans in Congress are angrily blaming each other and refusing to budge from their positions on funding the government, in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON — The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

House lawmakers made their long-awaited return to the nation’s capital this week after nearly eight weeks away. Republicans used their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line with a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate has already passed the measure.

News

Senate passes deal to reopen government, but hurdles remain for health care funding

By The Associated Press

Published November 10, 2025 at 9:00AM

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks with reporters at the Capitol Subway on the 36th day of the government shutdown, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.

What's in and out of the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.

Around Town

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra offers free tickets for federal workers

By Katie Taranto

Published November 4, 2025 at 9:45AM

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (photo via Alexandria Symphony Orchestra/Facebook)

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is providing free concert tickets to federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.

The promotion extends to the orchestra’s “Mozart & Mendelssohn” concert at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, as well as a seasonal “Holiday with a Twist” concert next month. The orchestra is offering the freebies at a time “when many may need the arts most,” Executive Director George Hanson said in a release.