Virginia Attorney General Creates Worker, Federal Accountability Units as Office Highlights Meta Settlement

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has created two new units within the Office of the Attorney General, one focused on worker protections and another assigned to legal challenges involving the federal government.

Jones’ office highlighted the new Worker Protection Unit and the Federal Accountability Unit in a weekly roundup that also included Virginia’s share of a multistate settlement with Meta and community outreach efforts across the state.

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The Worker Protection Unit will focus on alleged wage theft, worker misclassification and retaliation, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Jones said the unit represents the first time Virginia’s Attorney General’s Office has established a dedicated enforcement team specifically focused on workplace rights.

“For the first time in the history of the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, working people will have a dedicated enforcement team fighting for their rights on the job,” Jones said.

He said the unit will investigate complaints involving workers who may not have the financial resources to pursue an employer in court on their own.

The office said another focus will be worker misclassification, which can occur when a worker is classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee.

Jones said the goal is to give Virginia workers another place to turn when they believe workplace laws have been violated.

“We are here to help, and we are here to fight on your behalf so that you get the money that you’re owed,” Jones said during an interview cited by his office.

The Attorney General’s Office also announced the creation of a four-attorney Federal Accountability Unit.

That unit will focus on actions by the Trump administration that Jones and his office believe exceed federal authority or threaten Virginia’s interests.

The unit’s work is expected to cover federal funding, elections, health care, immigration, environmental protections, consumer issues, constitutional rights, tariffs and other economic policies, according to information released by the office.

It is also expected to coordinate with attorneys general in other states on multistate litigation involving federal policies.

“I have a fundamental responsibility as Attorney General to defend the Commonwealth and protect Virginians when the federal government exceeds its authority,” Jones said.

Jones has been sharply critical of several Trump administration policies and said the new unit will provide dedicated staff and resources to challenge federal actions in court when his office determines a legal challenge is warranted.

Among the issues Jones identified were tariffs, federal funding decisions, and reductions in the federal workforce associated with the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE.

The Attorney General’s description of those policies as harmful or examples of federal overreach represents the office’s position. Whether particular federal actions exceed the government’s legal authority would ultimately depend on the circumstances and, when challenged, on court decisions.

Jones’ office also highlighted a major multistate settlement involving Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Virginia is guaranteed $353 million as part of a broader $17 billion settlement arising from claims that Meta’s social media products harmed young users.

Attorneys general from 52 states and U.S. territories were involved in claims that the company misled the public about potential mental health effects associated with its products, according to information included in the roundup.

“For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health,” Jones said in announcing the agreement.

Those allegations were claims made against Meta as part of the legal action.

The settlement also calls for changes to protect minors using Facebook and Instagram. According to information included in the Attorney General’s roundup, those changes include age-verification measures, daily time limits and breaks intended to discourage prolonged use.

Implementation and effectiveness of the required features are expected to be reviewed by an independent auditor and the states involved in the settlement.

Jones said Virginia intends to use some of its settlement money for programs addressing harms associated with social media use and efforts to improve social media literacy among parents.

“We are really excited to put this money into efforts that are going to continue to help protect our kids,” Jones said in comments cited in the roundup.

The Attorney General’s Office is separately continuing a legal fight involving a 2025 Virginia social media law.

According to information included in the roundup, a federal judge put the law on hold on First Amendment grounds. The Richmond-based Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently kept the law on hold.

Jones has defended the law and argued that the restrictions it contains impose only an incidental burden on speech.

“The Meta settlement is a huge win, but we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Jones said in comments to Radio IQ. “And just as we did with Meta, we intend to prevail.”

Beyond the legal and enforcement announcements, the Attorney General’s Office highlighted outreach programs taking place in communities around Virginia.

The office’s Outreach Team works with residents, community organizations, and local government and law enforcement officials to provide information about programs and services available through the Attorney General’s Office.

Before students returned to school in Chesapeake, the office participated in the Chesapeake Virginia Rules Camp. The Attorney General’s Office partners with local law enforcement agencies on Virginia Rules camps, which teach young people about Virginia law and help them interact with local law enforcement.

Other recent outreach efforts focused on older Virginians and fraud prevention.

TRIAD Coordinator Ben Bickel and Community Liaison Officer Taylor Davis spoke at the Upper King William County Senior Citizens Center about fraud and scams.

The presentation also provided information about programs and resources available through the Attorney General’s Office, including Consumer Protection, TRIAD and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

At a Chickahominy Area TRIAD meeting in New Kent County, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Community Liaison Officer Randy Davis discussed recent cases handled by the unit.

Community liaison officers also met with senior citizens in Washington, Shenandoah, and Botetourt counties, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The activities are part of an effort by the office to maintain contacts with communities throughout Virginia while its legal divisions pursue enforcement actions and litigation at the state and federal levels.