Bring feds back to offices to revive metro, Virginia’s Youngkin says – By Molly Weisner (Federal Times) / Dec 15, 2023
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined politicians in and around Washington calling for federal employees to return to government offices after they were sent home during the COVID-19 pandemic, a move he says would revive mass transportation in the capital region.
In a letter to the director of the Office of Personnel Management obtained by Federal Times, the Republican said he’s concerned about budget deficits reported by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, thanks in part to low ridership by government commuters post pandemic.
“Federal employees must return to office work to infuse needed energy into the Greater D.C. regional economy and provide WMATA with a sustaining ridership level,” Youngkin wrote in the Dec. 6 letter.
On Thursday, WMATA reported a projected a $750 million funding gap for fiscal year 2025. The agency said it has run out of subsidy and federal relief funds after the pandemic and is struggling to boost revenue. Beginning in January, the agency said it will implement a hiring freeze, eliminate wage increases and issue layoff notices as needed if additional funding is not found.
