Urging the Governor and our federal representatives to assist West Virginians who have and will lose their federal jobs and to do all it their power to prevent these job losses in our state
House Resolution 9 is a nonbinding resolution urging the Governor of West Virginia and the state’s congressional delegation to take action to protect federal jobs held by West Virginians. The resolution states that more than 17,000 West Virginians work for federal agencies and argues that federal workforce reductions would have an outsized effect on the state’s economy, local communities, and fiscal stability. It specifically points to reported layoffs at a federal employer in Parkersburg and warns that additional cuts could spread to other regions with concentrations of federal workers.
The resolution frames federal job losses as harmful not only to affected employees and their families, but also to small businesses, population retention, and demand for social services. It also singles out the Internal Revenue Service as an example of a chronically understaffed agency providing an important public service, and it criticizes the stated rationale of reducing fraud, waste, and abuse as a pretext for broader tax cuts benefiting billionaires. The measure directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Governor and West Virginia’s federally elected representatives.
HR9 does not change state law or create new legal obligations; it is a legislative expression of opinion and advocacy. Its practical effect is to formally communicate the House of Delegates’ position that state leaders and federal officials should oppose federal layoffs affecting West Virginians and should work to preserve high-paying federal employment in the state. The resolution is aimed at influencing policy and public attention rather than amending statutes or appropriating funds.
The sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of federal workers and strongly opposed to federal job cuts. The sponsors present the issue as an urgent economic and community concern for West Virginia, emphasizing the importance of stable, well-paid federal employment. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided context, the available sentiment comes primarily from the resolution’s text, which is emphatic and partisan in tone.
The main point of contention is the cause and justification for federal workforce reductions. The resolution argues that claims of reducing fraud, waste, and abuse are not genuine and instead serve to justify tax cuts for billionaires, a characterization that would likely be disputed by supporters of the cuts. Another likely area of disagreement is the broader role of the federal government and whether preserving federal employment should be prioritized over downsizing. The resolution also names Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency in connection with layoffs, which signals a politically charged framing of the issue.