CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling on Governor Patrick Morrisey to establish an Employment Task Force to assist federal workers in the state who may face job losses due to proposed cuts to the federal workforce.
In a statement Thursday, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin emphasized the potential impact on the state’s economy.
“West Virginia is home to over 17,000 federal workers who provide vital services to our state and nation,” Pushkin said. “If Trump and Musk have their way, these hardworking men and women could be out of a job, and West Virginia’s economy will take a devastating hit. We need a plan in place to protect them and their families.”
State Senator Joey Garcia (D-13) highlighted the importance of federal jobs in North Central West Virginia, pointing to employees at the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Clarksburg, the Veterans Administration in Marion County, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Fairmont.
“These are hardworking West Virginians who protect our communities, care for our veterans, and contribute to critical research and public safety,” Garcia said. “If Donald Trump follows through on his plan to gut the federal workforce, it will devastate families in our region and weaken essential services that so many West Virginians rely on. Governor Morrisey needs to stand up for these workers.”
Pushkin urged Morrisey to form a bipartisan task force focused on identifying at-risk federal jobs, developing retraining and job placement programs, and coordinating efforts with state agencies, private employers, and labor unions.
He also called for advocacy at the federal level to support displaced workers.
“We’ve seen this story before—outsiders making decisions that cost West Virginians their jobs, and politicians like Patrick Morrisey standing by, refusing to lift a finger,” Pushkin said. “This time, the Governor must step up and fight for our people instead of his billionaire buddies.”
West Virginia’s federal workforce includes VA hospital employees, law enforcement officers, mine safety inspectors, and scientific researchers.
Democrats argue that job cuts would not only impact individual workers and their families but also weaken government services in the state.
“If Governor Morrisey is serious about protecting West Virginia jobs, he should stop rubber-stamping Trump’s reckless policies and start working on a plan to help the families who will suffer the consequences,” Pushkin concluded.
