Watching Abigail Spanberger’s first day in the governor’s office should remind every liberty-loving American how quickly power can be concentrated when one party decides they don’t need the legislature. Within hours of taking her oath on January 17, 2026, Spanberger signed ten sweeping executive orders that she billed as an “affordability” agenda — a classic playbook move to govern by decree rather than debate.
One of her very first moves was to roll back Virginia’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement by undoing the 287(g) arrangement, a decision that hands even more discretion to sanctuary-minded local officials. Conservatives warn that removing local-federal partnership tools makes communities less safe and ties the hands of honest law enforcement who rely on cooperative frameworks to hold criminals accountable.
That reversal didn’t go unnoticed on the right, and veteran GOP operative Reince Priebus tore into the move on Hannity, correctly pointing out that this feels like a return to the lawlessness and unilateralism Democrats championed when they were in full control. His blunt assessment captured a wider conservative frustration: voters who demand public safety are being sidelined for political theater.
Spanberger didn’t stop at executive fiat — she immediately reshuffled higher-education governance, prompting resignations and rapid appointments to university boards that now tilt heavily toward her allies. This is not neutral stewardship of our public universities; it’s political packing of governing boards to enforce ideological conformity and punish dissenting voices inside academic institutions.
Yes, the administration will tout “task forces” and reviews to make things more affordable, and some of the orders sound reasonable on paper, focusing on housing, healthcare, and permitting. But when affordability becomes a cover for centralized control, Kentuckians and Virginians alike should remember that more bureaucracy rarely means lower prices and often means higher costs and fewer freedoms.
Worse, Spanberger signaled a return to energy-first green policy by indicating moves like rejoining regional carbon schemes that will predictably raise household energy bills and hollow out job prospects in vital industries. Conservatives should be clear-eyed: policies packaged as “environmental responsibility” too often translate into higher utility bills and less energy security for working families.
This moment calls for mobilization, not resignation. Parents, taxpayers, and legislators who value the rule of law, school choice, and affordable energy must demand transparency, roll back any unlawful overreach, and insist on real accountability from Richmond. The fight for Virginia isn’t just political; it’s about protecting the common-sense institutions that keep our communities safe and our economy strong.
