119th Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and Robert Garcia CA-42), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, are demanding answers from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) about its proposed reorganization. The reorganization would relocate the USFS from the National Capital Region to Salt Lake City, close research facilities in 31 states, and repurpose all nine regional offices. 

The members said, “The proposed reorganization is likely to undermine the Forest Service’s ability to steward our forests and grasslands and fight wildfires, while forcing hundreds of dedicated civil servants out of their jobs. We demand that USFS explain how it concluded this sweeping reorganization would improve the management of America’s forests and public lands and serve taxpayers’ interests.”

The Trump Administration has already forced out over 9,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) workers and initiated a wider reorganization of USDA in which more than half of USDA employees will be forced to relocate or resign their positions. The proposed relocation of the Forest Service and the closure of research facilities could result in many more dedicated workers being forced out of federal service. It will harm the agency’s ability to perform essential services that keep Americans safe.

The members continued, “A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of the 2019 relocation of two USDA offices and the 2020 relocation of the Bureau of Land Management out of Washington, D.C. found that these moves significantly reduced agency productivity, staffing levels, and the average years of experience among staff. The Administration’s plans to relocate USFS’ headquarters would directly affect 260 employees, forcing them to choose between leaving their jobs or uprooting their families and lives to move across the country. Prior relocations indicate that many employees will likely resign rather than move, resulting in a significant loss of expertise and harming the Forest Service’s ability to do its job.”

The members have demanded that the Chief of the Forest Service, Tom Schultz, answer questions about how and why the Forest Service determined the reorganization was in the best interest of the American people. They also want information about his plans to retain employees who would rather not move to a different state and what the costs of the reorganization. 

The letter can be found HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Richard McCormick (R-GA) introduced the National Defense Data Resilience Act to ensure that – as cyber capabilities around the world continue to advance – the United States has enforceable data recovery standards across the federal government in the event of a digital attack from an adversary. It is essential to have Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) in place, which are the maximum time allowed to restore critical systems and data in the event of a cyber incident. 

“Cyber warfare is a growing threat, and our federal government should be prepared. Without this bill, we are leaving the safety and security of our nation vulnerable instead of maintaining necessary technological advancements. Now more than ever, we need to do everything we can to prevent the threats we know are coming from our adversaries,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam.  

“Having a strong national defense starts with protecting the data our military relies on every day. When vital information is lost or disrupted, missions and readiness can be put at risk,” said Congressman McCormick. "This bill takes an important step toward ensuring we can quickly restore critical systems by strengthening the way we safeguard and recover essential data. By building a more resilient defense infrastructure, we keep our servicemembers prepared for whatever they face next.”

Data recovery is now a mission assurance requirement. The National Defense Data Resilience Act recognizes that restoring critical defense data quickly and securely after a cyberattack is essential to readiness, deterrence, and American cyber power, said Cory Simpson, CEO of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology.  

The National Defense Data Resilience Act establishes mandatory RTOs for different thresholds of data across federal agencies, including the Pentagon, and establishes data recovery capability requirements for the data. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit a data recovery strategy for the Department of Defense. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) has introduced the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act.

“The American people deserve to know if the clothes they buy or the technology they use include parts made by forced labor. These products have no place on our store shelves. This bipartisan bill will ensure companies are being transparent about their products so consumers can make informed decisions. This is another step to hold China accountable for their exploitation of Uyghurs and their human rights atrocities,” said Rep. Subramanyam.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (H.R. 8712) would require publicly traded companies to review and disclose whether any of their products may have been produced with Uyghur forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is estimated that over 100,000 Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are forced to work in this region on goods such as clothing and technology. 

“Forced labor has no place in American supply chains and American consumers deserve to know the truth about where their goods come from. The Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act is a critical step toward holding corporations accountable. The United States will not look the other way while the Chinese government profits from the forced labor and persecution of the Uyghur people,” said Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX). 

“The atrocities being committed against the Uyghur people, including mass detention, forced labor, family separation, and systematic repression, demand a clear response from the international community. The U.S. must ensure that American companies and consumers are not complicit in these human rights abuses. Our bill strengthens transparency and accountability so that corporations cannot profit from exploitation hidden deep within global supply chains,” said Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN).

In addition to Reps. Moran and Carson, the legislation is also co-sponsored by Reps. Espaillat, Krishnamoorthi, McGovern, Moulton, Holmes Norton, Pelosi, Raskin, Suozzi, Titus, and Tokuda. 

“Requiring companies to disclose their full supply chain ties is a crucial element of halting the Chinese Communist Party’s modern-day slavery. A company should not be able to scrub its US-bound imports while continuing to profit from Uyghur forced labor in other parts of its global operations. My sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, has been imprisoned for almost eight years simply because I used my right to free speech as an American citizen. The CCP uses transnational repression to silence those who expose its crimes. Every way we can hold corporations accountable for their role in this genocide is a step toward justice, not only for Uyghurs, but for every family targeted by this regime,” said Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs.

“Companies should not be able to hide whether they are benefiting from Uyghur forced labor. This legislation will help consumers, investors, and regulators access necessary information to identify bad actors and eliminate Uyghur forced labor from global supply chains. For Uyghur Americans, this bill is an important step toward holding companies accountable for the exploitation of our family members in our homeland,” said Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling on the redistricting referendum:

“Millions of Virginians and two General Assemblies made their voice heard and voted for redistricting in Virginia to even the playing field this November. But a partisan Virginia Supreme Court decided it knew better and, in a deeply flawed decision with tortured logic, decided to overturn the direct voice of millions of Virginians. Meanwhile, Republican states continue to gerrymander across the country with no input from their constituents.

Trump and MAGA judges will continue to try to rig the system to evade accountability, but make no mistake, disenfranchised Virginians and Americans will remember this when they make their voice heard this November.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) has introduced the Data Infrastructure Risk Reduction Act to create a security strategy to protect communities near data centers.

“Data centers have become targets in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Some of my constituents live within 100 feet of data centers and they are rightfully concerned about their own safety. Data centers are significant to the global economy, so they are more of a target for adversaries. We need a clear plan to protect communities across the country that are in proximity to data centers,” said Rep. Subramanyam.

There are more than 4,000 data centers in the United States and over 300 in Northern Virginia alone. The Data Infrastructure Risk Reduction Act would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to make a strategy and provide recommendations on the defense of the communities around data centers and data infrastructure. The bill also directs the Secretary of DHS to consider the security of transmission and water infrastructure and provide recommendations on how to protect Americans living near data infrastructure.

Rep. Subramanyam has held two data center listening sessions in Ashburn and Gainesville to hear concerns directly from constituents. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine have demanded action by Dept. of Transportation Secretary Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address aviation noise and operational and safety concerns at Dulles International Airport.

Rep. Subramanyam and Sen. Kaine said: “Aircraft departing from or arriving at Dulles Airport routinely overfly communities in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland, subjecting residents to persistent aviation noise. However, the concerns extend beyond noise. In the past two years, there have been six reports of engine failures at Dulles Airport shortly after takeoff. One incident ignited a significant brush fire on airport property, and another resulted in a crash landing on Loudoun County Parkway. This presents a growing risk to communities in Northern Virginia.”

Rep. Subramanyam and Sen. Kaine have requested the FAA consider recommendations from Loudoun County’s Runway 30 Aviation Noise Mitigation Project, which concluded in December 2025. The recommendations include consolidating departure routes over industrial and commercial areas, having aircraft climb at a steeper angle to reduce noise over residential areas, and implementing a nighttime noise procedure. They pushed the FAA to establish a Working Group to make sure the recommendations are addressed without further delay. 

Rep. Subramanyam and Sen. Kaine concluded: “We also want to emphasize that aviation noise is not unique to Dulles Airport, but a national issue affecting communities across the country, including near other airports in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. While we understand that not all aviation noise can be mitigated, we believe that these impacts should be addressed when possible.”

A full copy of the letter can be found HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Duffy: 

We write as members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation representing the community surrounding Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to bring attention to aviation noise, operational concerns, and safety concerns at the airport. We request that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) establish a Working Group to respond to these concerns and the recommendations that have been put forward by local stakeholders to address them. 

Dulles Airport is a highly trafficked airport serving the National Capital Region. It handles hundreds of thousands of aircraft movements and millions of passengers per year and is surrounded by densely populated residential areas. Aircraft departing from or arriving at Dulles Airport routinely overfly communities in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland, subjecting residents to persistent aviation noise. 

At Dulles Airport, 68% of departures take off from the east-west Runway 30, and the departure procedure off Runway 30 results in a low altitude turn immediately after takeoff. Aircraft weighing over 300,000 pounds routinely fly over residential neighborhoods at low altitudes, including the aircraft with the highest maximum take-off weight in the world, generating significant aviation noise. However, the concerns extend beyond noise. In the past two years, there have been six reports of engine failures at Dulles Airport shortly after takeoff. One incident ignited a significant brush fire on airport property, and another resulted in a crash landing on Loudoun County Parkway. This presents a growing risk to communities in Northern Virginia. 

In response to these concerns and at the direction of the FAA’s Eastern Region Administrator, Loudoun County led the Runway 30 Aviation Noise Mitigation Project, which concluded in December 2025. The project produced three recommendations to the FAA to reduce aviation noise over residential neighborhoods while also improving safety and supporting efficient flight operations. These recommendations are: 

1. Implement Noise Abatement Departure Procedure (NADP-1) on all departures off Runway 30;
2. Implement a Nighttime Heading procedure requiring aircraft to fly runway heading until leaving 3,000 feet MSL before proceeding on course, and;
3. During daytime hours, consolidate the first two miles of the northwest departure route off Runway 30 over industrial and commercial areas using Area Navigation (RNAV) technology before aircraft turn on course toward their destinations. 

These recommendations are supported by affected communities, consistent with practices at major airports across the country, and align with the Administration’s stated priority to modernize Dulles Airport. 

In response to the recommendations that have been developed and proposed by our constituencies in Northern Virginia, we respectfully request that the Office of the FAA Administrator establish a Working Group, reporting directly to the FAA Deputy Administrator (ADA), to address these pending recommendations, and to elevate the work of the Runway 30 Aviation Noise Mitigation Project. This Working Group would not replace the Runway 30 Aviation Noise Mitigation Project but would be the primary point of contact for the FAA to respond to the past recommendations and ongoing work of this group. 

We believe that a Working Group reporting to the Deputy Administrator is the best mechanism to move forward on these recommendations, expedite FAA’s review process, and address the noise and operational issues at Dulles Airport. We also request that the ADA become the liaison for aviation noise mitigation efforts to prioritize this issue within the national airspace program, instead of an FAA Regional Administrator. In addition, we request that sufficient staff and resources are provided to expedite the FAA’s review of these recommendations. 

We ask that the Working Group: 

1. Report directly to the ADA;
2. Include participation from the Air Traffic Organization, the Office of Airports, and the Office of Safety;
3. Consider the recommendations made by the Runway 30 Aviation Noise Mitigation Project within a single integrated process;
4. Engage the affected communities, local governments, and relevant carriers as active participants;
5. Operate on an accelerated timeline, with concrete implementation decisions within one year of its establishment; and,
6. Provide quarterly progress reports to Congress 

Washington Dulles International Airport is a critical national asset. The communities of Northern Virginia and the broader region only ask that the systems and procedures governing flight arrivals and departures at Dulles Airport take the effects on the people who live nearby into consideration. 

We also want to emphasize that aviation noise is not unique to Dulles Airport, but a national issue affecting communities across the country, including near other airports in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. While we understand that not all aviation noise can be mitigated, we believe that these impacts should be addressed when possible. 

We appreciate your attention to this matter and welcome the opportunity to discuss it further. Please contact our offices to arrange a briefing at your earliest convenience. 

Sincerely,

Rep. Subramanyam

Sen. Kaine

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) has two bipartisan bills headed to the House floor. The Quantum Encryption Readiness and Resilience Act passed unanimously out of the Space, Science, and Technology Committee, and the Taxpayers Resources Used in Emergencies (TRUE) Accountability Act passed unanimously out of the Oversight Committee.

“The race for quantum supremacy is underway, and the United States cannot afford to fall behind in protecting our nation's most sensitive information. This bill is a vital step towards ensuring our government and private sector are prepared for the quantum era. We must assess our current standing, develop a robust national strategy, and work together to manage evolving threats,” said Rep. Subramanyam.

The Quantum Encryption Readiness and Resilience Act is designed to proactively prepare the United States for the national security challenges posed by advancements in quantum computing. The bill would establish a comprehensive national strategy to protect sensitive data from future quantum-enabled cyberattacks.

The TRUE Accountability Act, which is sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and co-led by Rep. Subramanyam, would require federal agencies to develop plans to prevent fraud and improper payments in the spending of emergency funds after disasters, pandemics, or other crises. The Government Accountability Office estimates that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud.  

“We must ensure that federal agencies are prepared to handle emergency funds as effectively as possible. The American public deserves confidence that emergency funds are going to the people who need it the most, not ending up in the hands of fraudsters. This commonsense bill will increase accountability and improve fiscal management at federal agencies,” said Rep. Subramanyam. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Don Beyer (VA-08), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), and James Walkinshaw (VA-11) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a reorganization that would move most employees who work in food assistance and nutrition programs out of the National Capital Region (NCR):

“With only 30 days notice, the Trump Administration decided to attack federal employees, their families, and make it harder to administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs. To be clear: this is a mass layoff and illegal reorganization under the guise of a relocation.

This administration is also intentionally forcing hardworking and experienced USDA employees to choose between losing their careers in the midst of mass federal layoffs or moving their entire family across the country during the school year and uprooting their lives at a time of rising inflation. 

In one swift move, the Administration is undercutting food assistance, food safety, and farmers. This will make every single American less healthy and less safe. It will also increase food and healthcare costs on every single American.

We saw this exact move before in 2019 with other USDA offices, and it was a disaster. It resulted in serious brain drain, reduced morale, and draconian cuts to programs that the American people rely on. 

It's clear this is also another targeted and cynical Republican attack on SNAP from millions of Americans. Make no mistake – this is not about government efficiency, it is not about optimizing services for the American people, and it is not about maximizing the use of taxpayer dollars. It is the latest in a long series of attempts by this administration to break the spirits of federal public servants and disrupt the delivery of crucial services to the American people. 

In short, this move will be a disaster. We will do everything we can to fight it and eventually reverse it.”

On April 30, 2026, USDA announced the relocations of SNAP to Indianapolis, the Child Nutrition Programs to Dallas, the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs to Kansas City, research programs to Raleigh, Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations to Denver, and retailer operations and compliance will spread across offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York City.

These changes are part of a larger USDA reorganization plan announced in July 2025 that would move most of the Department’s NCR staff to five regional hubs. In the announcement, USDA stated that they expected to move 2,300 USDA jobs out of the NCR. Other affected agencies include the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service.   

During the first Trump administration, the USDA relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of these relocations found that they had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

1. The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
2. A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
3. Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage had already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

In March 2025, the members introduced the Cost of Relocations Act, led by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.