The major takeaways for federal employees from the vice presidential debate

The new major candidates for vice president, Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, squared off in the first and only running mate debate for the 2024 election, offering a tamer and more policy-oriented discussion than the presidential debate last month. 

Walz described himself as a “union guy” while Vance, in at least one instance, described the need for a robust and well-functioning government. They defended the records of Vice President Harris and former President Trump, respectively, while attacking their opponents as dangerous threats to the country. 

Here is a summary of the notable comments and promises the candidates made related to the functioning of the federal government:

Border security:

On immigration, both Walz and Vance spoke of a need to ramp up law enforcement at the border. Vance spoke more of interior enforcement, promising to follow through on former President Trump’s plan to implement mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. He did not detail how such a plan would be carried out, which would require a significant infusion of resources and staff. Walz, meanwhile, promised to hire 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, a proposition that could face headwinds due to hiring challenges. 

Walz and Vance traded barbs over the bipartisan border bill that failed in Congress earlier this year, in large part because Trump lobbied Republicans against it. The measure would have instituted a hiring surge at several border agencies, which Walz touted. Vance countered that “additional resources would help,” but more important was to “empower” federal officers and agents. 

Emergency response

In the wake of Hurricane Helene and the widespread damage it has wrought, the candidates spoke briefly of the role of the federal government in disaster recovery. Walz stressed that state and local governments take the lead in those efforts and the federal government steps in to provide resources and support as necessary. 

Vance said “we want as robust and aggressive a federal response as we can get,” and suggested a second Trump administration would “put the citizens of this country first when they suffer from a disaster.” The Biden administration has deployed 3,600 employees from agencies across government to Southeast and Appalachia to assist in Helene response and recovery. 

Federal land management 

Vance touted Trump’s plan to develop housing on federal lands, suggesting there are many areas “that aren't being used for anything.” Non-National Parks lands, he said, could be used to “build a lot of housing.” Walz countered that would not help in the many of the nation’s most populated areas, where housing is typically in the shortest supply: “There's not a lot of federal lands in and around Minneapolis, for example,” Walz said. 

Presidential transition 

Asked about Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election and his role in organizing the violent riots at the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, Vance said Trump deserved plaudits because he “peacefully gave over power on Jan. 20.” While Trump ultimately stepped aside without further violence, his refusal to admit defeat significantly delayed Biden’s transition and his team reported several instances of resistance from the outgoing administration. 

Transition efforts for 2024 are well underway and while both campaigns have named transition team leaders, Trump has yet to accept the formal services the federal government offers to both campaigns.