A retired federal security engineer warns that steep staff reductions could expose the United States to new risks. With an estimated 670,000 furloughed and another 730,000 working without pay, experts raise concerns about the government’s capacity to protect the nation adequately during a crisis.

As Virginia prepares for its next governor’s race, the spotlight is on Donald Trump’s slashing of the federal workforce—particularly the state’s estimated 23,000 job losses. Both Democrats and Republicans appear eager for a Trump ally’s arrival, raising questions about whether this election will be a decisive test of the former president’s policies.