This article originally appeared here, at wjla.com

FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration is calling out Fairfax County Chair Jeff McKay and the majority on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for not doing enough, in the state’s view, to attract businesses and jobs to the county.

“Fairfax County is sitting on the sidelines in the fight to attract new jobs and private business investment to your locality, and it is long past time you show some real leadership and get in the game,” Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura wrote to McKay in a letter on Friday. “As Secretary of Commerce and Trade, I am proud to oversee the Commonwealth’s economic development efforts on behalf of Governor Glenn Youngkin. In every other county or city, those efforts are collaborative, as state resources and local resources are both essential components to securing business relocation or expansion. But unique among your fellow localities, Fairfax County does not offer matching economic development incentives; instead only offering indirect “roadway improvements.”

On Tuesday, Segura met with business owners and leaders in Fairfax County, some of whom say the economic conditions in Fairfax County are uncertain because of the county’s local business policies, including a new meals tax, and federal government restructuring.

Segura added in his letter, “Given your [McKay’s] recent comments criticizing potential federal restructuring initiatives, logic would suggest some sense of urgency in pursuing private sector business opportunities to diversify and strengthen our local and regional economies, especially in Northern Virginia. Failing to do so leaves you unable to take advantage of the dynamic evolution of our business environment. While the refusal to compete for new business opportunities is a fundamental flaw in your approach to growing jobs and investment, Fairfax County could and should do a much better job of creating a business-friendly environment, and not just rely on your proximity to Washington, D.C.”

Virginia officials criticize Fairfax County for lacking business incentives

Segura said at the state level, the Youngkin administration has secured a “robust and growing Virginia” by focusing on reducing taxes, investing in education and workforce, expanding critical infrastructure, streamlining regulations, and making it easier for private industry to build.

“You and your board majority, on the other hand, have taken a less effective approach,” Segura wrote in a letter to McKay. “You have crowded out Virginia business owners with the threat of project labor agreements. You have also chosen this year to close your budget shortfall with a new meals tax, one which has previously been overwhelmingly rejected by your voters, and yet you still did not fully fund your schools at the local level. This is in stark contrast to the Commonwealth’s ability to run billions of dollars in surpluses, deliver $9 billion in tax relief, and increase per pupil spending by nearly 50 percent. It is long past time you set aside your partisan political stunts and get started doing the real work to improve your citizens’ lives. A good start would be joining us in offering targeted economic development incentives to high-return-on-investment business opportunities. Until then, the Governor and his entire Administration will continue working hard to grow job opportunities in Fairfax County and fully support the people of Fairfax County who may need help.”

On Tuesday, one Executive Vice President of Glory Days Grill, Gary Cohen, told 7News, “I do think it’s time to look for Fairfax County to be more involved with the state, to come together to figure out ways to move more business to Fairfax County.”

Segura told 7News it’s time for Fairfax County leaders to play ball.

“I think it’s just disappointing to be honest, that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Chairman McKay, is not playing ball, and they’re not trying to diversify the Fairfax economy,” Segura told 7News. “We all know that it’s no secret that there’s a restructuring happening in Washington, DC, and I have companies, dozens of companies, knocking on my door wanting to participate in the Virginia boom story. Of all this opportunity that’s happening, Fairfax County is the only locality across all of Virginia that does not match the state’s economic incentives, so that Fairfax can offer the best possible package to a company that might be considering coming to Virginia, and that’s a problem. We believe that Fairfax is not living to its potential. It’s not working with the state in partnership to bring the best kinds of companies to the locality, and so that’s why I wrote this letter urging Chairman McKay and the board of supervisors to partner, to work with us the state, so that Fairfax and all the residents of Fairfax can have as much opportunity as possible.”

McKay hit back, saying, “Businesses don’t locate here because of giveaways. They do so because of our educated workforce, strong infrastructure, and long-term commitment to quality of life.”

“Our success has never depended on one-off incentives,” he added.

County Supervisor Pat Herrity has a different take.

“There was a time in Fairfax County where we didn’t need to offer incentives,” said Herrity. “We had the best school system. We had the number one school in the country, Thomas Jefferson. We had low crimes, we had low taxes, we had the best educated workforce. Unfortunately, now, because of a decade or so of one party rule, we can’t say any of those things, so it’s time that we join the rest of the state in offering incentives for businesses to locate here.”

Segura’s letter to McKay comes after McKay and Democratic State Sen. Scott Surovell released a joint statement this week that reads:

“We are dismayed by the staggering rise in unemployment across Fairfax County, which has reached levels not seen since mid-2021. With over 21,700 residents now unemployed—a shocking 35% increase from last year—it is clear that the reckless policies of Donald Trump and the complicity of statewide Republican leadership are directly responsible for this crisis. This threatens the decades of leadership that has made Fairfax County the economic engine of Virginia.

The Trump administration’s disastrous workforce cuts have left our communities vulnerable, and Governor Glenn Youngkin’s failure to take decisive action has only deepened the economic pain felt by families across our region. Instead of prioritizing the needs of Virginians, Youngkin has chosen to align himself with the same failed policies that have led to this economic downturn. His inaction speaks volumes about his commitment to the people he claims to serve.

Adding to this crisis is Attorney General Jason Miyares’ failure to take legal action to protect federal workers, unlike other state Attorneys General who have stepped up to defend their constituents. This lack of leadership only exacerbates the challenges faced by our workforce and highlights a troubling disregard for the livelihoods of Virginians.

As we face some of the highest unemployment rates in nearly four years, it is evident that the leadership of Trump, Youngkin, Earle-Sears, and Miyares is out of touch with the realities facing working families. Their misguided approach to governance has resulted in real suffering for our residents, and it is unacceptable.

The numbers tell a stark story: Fairfax County’s unemployment rate has climbed to 3.3%, with the May 2025 total representing the highest level of joblessness since August 2021. This dramatic increase has occurred despite our region’s historical resilience and the availability of over 126,000 open positions throughout Northern Virginia, prior to Trump taking office. The disconnect between available jobs and displaced federal workers reveals the specific and targeted nature of this crisis.

Instead of giving lip service to our federal workers and cheering on federal workforce reductions, Governor Youngkin, Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Miyares need to start taking responsibility for the economic fallout of their party’s policies. A simple job-posting website is wholly inadequate to address this crisis—the Governor must present a comprehensive plan that includes retraining programs, unemployment insurance extensions, and direct financial assistance for displaced workers. He needs to stand up for Virginians and leverage his close relationship with Trump to do something that actually benefits Virginians. Meanwhile, Attorney General Miyares remains conspicuously absent while attorneys general in other states have filed lawsuits and taken decisive legal action to protect their federal workforce from politically motivated terminations. Winsome Sears needs to stop cheerleading Virginia’s families’ economic dislocation. Virginians deserve better than empty promises and partisan games.

The ripple effects extend far beyond the immediate unemployment statistics. Federal contractors face uncertainty as contracts are canceled, and the downstream economic impact threatens to undermine the prosperity that has long defined Fairfax County. Our local businesses, from restaurants to retail establishments, are already feeling the effects as consumer spending declines among affected families.

We call on Governor Youngkin to immediately take action to focus on economic recovery for fired federal workers, including comprehensive retraining programs, expedited licensing for professional certifications, extended unemployment benefits, and direct coordination with private sector employers. A job-posting website alone will not solve this crisis—we need robust, funded programs that provide real pathways to employment. Attorney General Miyares must join his counterparts in other states who have courageously filed lawsuits and taken legal action to protect Virginia’s federal workforce from arbitrary and politically motivated terminations.

We stand united in our commitment to fight for a fair and equitable economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy elite. It is time to reject the failed leadership of Trump, Youngkin, Sears and Miyares and to put the needs of our communities first. Together, the General Assembly and our local governments must work to restore economic stability and ensure that every Virginian has the opportunity to thrive.

Fairfax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia deserve leadership that puts families first, not political ideology. We will continue to advocate for policies that support working families, create sustainable employment opportunities, and ensure that our region remains economically vibrant for generations to come.”

Gov. Youngkin’s Communications Director Rob Damschen told 7News on Friday, “As Fairfax County politicians focus on partisan theatrics and political stunts, Governor Youngkin continues to work with everyone, including the federal government, to grow public and private sector jobs and opportunities in Virginia, evidenced by the successful relocation of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development from Washington, D.C. to Northern Virginia. Since day one, Governor Youngkin has worked to make Virginia more competitive against states that are winning business investment and people by focusing on the fundamentals: reducing taxes and cost of living, investing in education and workforce, expanding critical infrastructure, streamlining regulations and making it easier for private industry to build. In contrast, localities like Fairfax have chosen to raise taxes and make business growth more difficult.”

In response to the joint statement from McKay and Surovell, Miyares’ spokesperson Chloe Smith told 7News, “Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership, Virginia is a national leader in economic development, landing record-breaking business investments, strengthening our workforce, and expanding small business opportunities. But public safety and economic strength go hand in hand—and Democrats in Fairfax have chosen to coddle criminals, undermine law enforcement, and push policies that make businesses and families think twice about putting down roots. It’s sad but predictable that when Democratic policies fail, their first instinct is to deflect, distract, and point fingers. Maybe it’s time Fairfax County leadership start taking some accountability for the consequences of their own policies because scapegoating won’t put a single Virginian back to work.”