In a move that signals a clear escalation of partisan warfare from Richmond, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones this week announced the creation of a standing legal team inside his office, exclusively tasked with challenging federal government actions in court.
Dubbed the “Federal Accountability Unit,” this new arm of the Attorney General’s office will be staffed by four fresh attorneys, strategically placed across the Office of the Solicitor General and the Civil Litigation Division. It will operate under the leadership of Deputy Solicitor General Megan Keenan.
Jones’s office proudly presented this as the first cross-functional team of its kind, designed to provide a "permanent capacity to identify emerging threats, respond quickly, and take legal action." However, the Attorney General didn't mince words about its true target: specifically calling out the "overreach" of President Donald Trump's administration in his public announcement.
“I have a fundamental responsibility as Attorney General to defend the Commonwealth and protect Virginians when the federal government exceeds its authority,” Jones declared. “I promised to put Virginia first, and the Federal Accountability Unit will take on Trump administration actions that hurt Virginians, from tariffs that exacerbate the cost crisis, to the damage left behind by [the Department of Government Efficiency]. My team will be ready to act when Trump holds critical funding hostage, when federal policies threaten Virginia workers and families, or when the President attacks our democracy.”
This thinly veiled political broadside reveals a disturbing willingness to weaponize a state legal office against a duly elected federal administration. The unit’s expansive portfolio covers everything from elections and healthcare to immigration, environmental protections, consumer issues, constitutional rights, and economic policies. The team aims to file litigation, defend the state in federal cases, and coordinate with other activist attorneys general in multistate suits – a blueprint for systematic obstruction rather than impartial justice.
Deputy Solicitor General Keenan echoed the combative stance, stating, “We understand the weight of this work and the stakes for Virginians. We will move quickly, defend the Commonwealth, and meet unlawful action with the full force of the law. Our charge is to anticipate and counter emerging threats, build the strongest cases possible, and ensure the state is prepared when its interests or its people are put at risk.”
However, not everyone in Virginia is cheering this development. Virginia Senate Republicans swiftly criticized the announcement, taking to their X account to voice their profound dismay.
“What Virginia Democrats call ‘federal overreach’ is really just enforcing the laws on the books,” the caucus fired back. “Jay Jones’ entire job is to enforce the law and keep Virginians safe. He has completely abandoned that responsibility.”
This critique cuts to the heart of the matter: a state Attorney General, elected to uphold state law and ensure public safety, is instead diverting taxpayer resources and legal talent to engage in what many see as politically motivated lawfare against the federal government. The AG’s office claims the unit builds on ongoing work, with Virginia having joined dozens of multistate cases since Jones took office. Applications for the four new positions are already posted on the state’s jobs site.
Jones, a Democrat and former member of the House of Delegates, assumed office on January 17 after defeating Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in November.
A Justice Department spokesperson, in a statement to The Epoch Times, affirmed that “the Department of Justice will continue to defend the policies of this administration, based on the facts and the law,” implicitly acknowledging the new unit’s adversarial posture. The White House did not offer a comment before publication.
The creation of a permanent, anti-federal government legal unit under the guise of "accountability" is a stark example of how some within the political establishment are willing to use the power of their office to undermine an America First agenda. Instead of focusing on the critical issues facing Virginia citizens, this move prioritizes political obstruction and partisan grandstanding, raising serious questions about the politicization of justice and the true priorities of those entrusted with upholding the law and serving the Commonwealth.
