Sen. Kaine condemns mass federal firing threat, pushes new DCA proposal as shutdown looms

WASHINGTON (7News) — As the Sept. 30 deadline for federal spending draws near, 7News spoke to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine about his strong opposition to an OMB directive ordering agencies to prepare for mass firings and a new proposal to scale back flights at Reagan National Airport.

Here's a breakdown of the full conversation.

OMB Memo Orders Reduction-in-Force Planning

Kaine is pushing back forcefully against a recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that directs agencies to prepare mass firings if Congress fails to reach a deal. He said the Trump administration is escalating the crisis by weaponizing federal workers, and that the memo underscores a pattern he’s warned about.

The OMB has instructed federal agencies to develop “reduction-in-force” (RIF) plans in anticipation of mass firings should a spending agreement not be reached. The move is being treated as a break from past shutdown practices, in which employees typically were furloughed and later paid back for lost time.

The language of the memo, including statements like “use this opportunity to consider reduction in force,” has raised alarm among federal employees, who worry a short lapse in funding could translate directly into job cuts.

Critics call the memo “extortive and harmful,” viewing it as an escalation beyond normal budget brinkmanship.

Kaine: Trump is the one saying “take it or leave it”

In an interview on Wednesday afternoon, Kaine seized on the memo as evidence that the administration is not simply preparing for a shutdown, but seeking leverage through threat.

“The Democrats haven’t put unalterable demands on the table. We put a proposal on the table that we think is better for the American public than the Republican proposal. We have not said, ‘Take it or leave it.’ Who’s saying ‘take it or leave it’? The president is saying, ‘take it or leave it.’ The president is refusing even to meet with Democratic Congressional leadership.”

Kaine said it is deeply unfair to federal workers and the public when the administration issues sweeping threats like mass firings, rather than engaging in talks.

“What we would do if the president and his Republican enablers decide they’re just going to sack federal employees is, one, do what we’ve done already — we will file lawsuits to challenge their legal authority to do so. In many instances, we’ve been successful. We will shine a spotlight on the fact that the Trump administration, after firing a whole lot of federal employees in the DOGE process, has actually had to hire a lot of them back. How inefficient to fire people and have to bring them back because critical work isn’t done. And then we would undertake other steps as well, to try to have the back of hardworking public employees.”

Cancelled meetings, broken norms, broken promises

Kaine criticized the White House for backing away from prior commitments to negotiate and meet with Congress, saying the refusal is a sure sign of bad faith.

“The president, he changed his mind from Sunday to Tuesday about whether you’d have a meeting. You should change it back, and we should have a meeting. We should do what we always do. We should do what the American public expects us to do. We should do what Virginians expect us to do, which is sit down and work something out.”

He pointed out that through his tenure, every budget showdown in which he was involved ultimately required bilateral negotiation between Congress and the executive branch.

“I don’t think the American public wants Democrats or Republicans or the president or Congress to say, ‘my way or the highway, take it or leave it.’ I think they want negotiation. The idea of you cannot be involved, and we will not even meet with you, is so out of character for how this happens. What I want to see is real negotiation.”

Local atakes: Federal workers, DMV region

Kaine emphasized that the region is especially vulnerable to mass firings: Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Washington, D.C. are home to a dense population of federal employees and contractors. Disruption in pay or jobs would ripple through local economies, affecting everything from commuting to mortgages and leases, to local retailers and services.

In his remarks, Kaine pointed to the administration’s prior moves under DOGE as having already damaged the DMV region.

“Look what they did coming in with DOGE, and look how negatively that has affected the DMV,” he said. “The OMB is headed by a guy, Russ Vought, who says he wants to traumatize the federal workforce — and that’s one promise the administration has been good to.”

What’s next

With both sides dug in, Kaine said the only viable path is for the White House and Congress to return to the negotiating table — immediately.

“Since I came to the Senate in 2013, every budget deal I’ve been part of has ended with congressional leadership sitting down with the president, hashing out a deal. When the president said he wanted to cancel the meeting, I think a number of us are looking at — he wants a shutdown. I don’t know why he would want it, but we just need to do what we can to avoid it.”

He added that the Democratic alternative to the Republican budget plan is not a “take it or leave it” offer, but a proposal responsive to concerns over healthcare cuts and other issues.

Kaine Pushing Bill to Roll Back Reagan Airport Flights After Near-Collision

Beyond budget battles, Kaine also addressed aviation safety, saying he and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) will soon introduce legislation to roll back flight slots at Reagan National Airport. The push comes after a near-collision in January renewed concerns about congestion and safety at the busy airfield.

“We have announced that we are going to file legislation to roll back the slots,” Kaine said. “The bill has not been introduced yet. We believe we will have some bipartisan support, but we have to file the bill and then go look for it. But I do think the NTSB and other reporting has made really plain that the situation is untenable, just as we warned more than a year ago, and adjustments need to be made.”

Kaine and other regional lawmakers have long opposed efforts to add more flights at Reagan, warning that the airport’s limited runway capacity and close-in location pose risks. The January near-miss incident, now under federal investigation, has added urgency to the debate.

What are “slots”?

At Reagan National Airport (DCA), the number of takeoffs and landings — called slots — is tightly controlled by federal law. The limits are designed to keep traffic safe at one of the nation’s most congested airports, which has short runways and sits just across the Potomac River from downtown Washington.

Why airlines want more flights

Airlines and some lawmakers outside the D.C. region have pushed to add more long-distance flights at Reagan, arguing that travelers should have greater direct access to the capital without needing to connect through Dulles or Baltimore/Washington airports. Carriers say more competition could also reduce fares.

Why Kaine and local leaders oppose expansion

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, former Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton have consistently opposed slot increases. They argue Reagan is already overburdened, with planes packed into limited airspace. Adding flights, they say, increases delays, strains airport operations, and — most importantly — raises safety concerns.

What Kaine’s bill would do

Kaine announced he is preparing legislation to *roll back* slots at Reagan — reducing the number of flights allowed each day. He says adjustments are needed to prevent future accidents and keep the airport manageable for both pilots and air traffic controllers.

What happens next

The bill has not yet been filed, but Kaine said he expects bipartisan support from lawmakers representing the D.C. region. If introduced, the proposal would put him in direct conflict with members of Congress and airlines pushing for expansion.

Timeline:

1966 – Slot system created

• Congress imposes limits on flights at Reagan National (DCA) to reduce congestion and noise.
• Known as the Perimeter Rule, it also caps long-distance flights to 1,250 miles.

1980s–1990s – Pressure builds for more flights

• Airlines and lawmakers from outside the region lobby for exceptions.
• Several rounds of legislation gradually add more slots and exemptions to the Perimeter Rule.

2000 – Big expansion push

• Congress approves dozens of new flights at DCA, sparking opposition from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. leaders who warn the airport is over capacity.

2012 – FAA Modernization Act

• Adds 16 more round-trip flights beyond the 1,250-mile perimeter, despite regional opposition.

2023 – Slot fight reignites

• A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduces a proposal to add 28 flights at Reagan.
• Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Ben Cardin, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton push back, citing safety and congestion.

January 2024 – Near collision

• Two commercial aircraft narrowly avoid colliding on a runway at Reagan, prompting an NTSB investigation.
• Incident fuels regional leaders’ warnings that the airport is at capacity.

January 2025 – Deadly mid-air collision

• A tragic mid-air collision involving planes departing Reagan kills 67 people
• The disaster renews urgent calls to reduce flights, with safety cited as the top concern by lawmakers and aviation officials.

September 2025 – Kaine announces rollback bill

• Sen. Tim Kaine said he will file legislation to reduce slots at Reagan, not add more. He calls the situation “untenable” and points to the January 2025 tragedy as proof that adjustments are needed.