United Way Of The National Capital Area Hosts Roundtable with U.S. Rep. Don Beyer and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay to Discuss Impacts of Recent Federal Government Events on the ALICE Population

Leaders from Britepaths, Capital Area Food Bank, and United Community Also Joined the Discussion

ALEXANDRIA, VA (April 15, 2025) — On Friday, April 11, United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) hosted a roundtable discussion for nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia to talk with U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay about the impacts of recent Federal funding cuts and reduction in workforce decisions on the region’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population. 

Leaders from several United Way NCA partners – Britepaths, Capital Area Food Bank, and United Community – joined the event at United Way NCA’s South County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) in Alexandria, which focused on how the ALICE population will increase due to recent events and ways for nonprofits to collaborate to assist those who are impacted. ALICE represents the growing number of households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county (i.e. the ALICE Threshold).

(left to right) Joseph Liu Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Capital Area Food Bank; Leah Fraley, CEO, United Community; U.S. Rep. Beyer; Rosie Allen-Herring, United Way of the National Capital Area; Chairman McKay; Abra Kurt, Executive Director, Britepaths

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) – “I’m eager to continue building a community-wide effort to help us land on our feet. Unfortunately, a lot of these people [who were affected by Federal workforce cuts] are not going to be hired back and we’ve got to take care of everybody – from people who need help making their mortgage and car payments to those who need help transitioning to new jobs. We also can’t forget that Federal workers have been major contributors to nonprofits, and now those people may not be in a position to give. Ultimately, the more that we focus on lifting up our nonprofits in Northern Virginia, the more we’re going to be able to take care of our neighbors.”

Chairman Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors – “We’re concerned about the loss within the Federal workforce – because there are 80,000 Federal workers in Fairfax County alone – but we’re also concerned about other factors that come with the loss of those jobs. For example, not only are our Northern Virginia nonprofits receiving an increase in requests for services, but also their previous donors may now be in need of those services. In general, both corporations and individuals are going to be less able to give to these nonprofits, so there’s going to be a large gap. No matter what, we have to remember that we’re all in this together and blessed to have such a trusted network of community-based organizations in our region.”

Rosie Allen-Herring, President and CEO of United Way of the National Capital Area – “We’re deeply concerned about our ALICE population, including the federal workers in the National Capital region who have already lost their jobs, plus others who are still at risk of losing employment due to recent federal funding and reduction in workforce decisions. With so many residents already living paycheck to paycheck and thousands of federal workers now unemployed, we anticipate a dramatic surge in the demand for services, especially from individuals who have never needed assistance before.” 

(left to right) U.S. Rep. Beyer; Rosie Allen-Herring, United Way of the National Capital Area; Chairman McKay

According to the most recent United Way NCA ALICE report (May 2024), more than 540,000 households in the National Capital Area – more than 326,000 Northern Virginia counties served by United Way NCA – were at the ALICE Threshold. These households are unable to afford essentials, such as food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and more, and are one crisis (e.g. spouse losing a job, unexpected illness, major car repair) away from not being able to make it. In 2022, of the more than 2 million households in the National Capital Area, nearly 701,000 (34%) were below the ALICE Threshold. 

Leaders from nonprofit attendees of the April 11 roundtable left Rep. Beyer and Chairman McKay with suggestions for moving “from conversation to commitment to action,” such as:

• Encouraging and facilitating stronger collaboration between the private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, because sustainable solutions require cross-sector partnerships.
• Spearheading efforts to address the service gaps and systemic challenges that continue to impact the National Capital region’s most marginalized populations.

For more details and photos from the April 11 roundtable, please reach out to Cyndi Sutton at cyndi@jrcommunications.com. 

About United Way of the National Capital Area
United Way of the National Capital Area works to improve the health, education, and economic opportunity of every person in the National Capital community. United Way NCA creates measurable impact in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties for more than 45 years. In 2020, United Way NCA was among 384 organizations across the United States to receive a generous transformational investment from novelist and venture philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott. For more information about United Way of the National Capital Area, visit UnitedWayNCA.org.