Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, died Wednesday morning after a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 75 years old.
Connolly is leaving behind a legacy as a legislator who fought for the federal workforce, government contractors and the economic development of his home region of Northern Virginia.
In April, Connolly announced he would not seek re-election in 2026 and would step down from his post as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. He first announced his diagnosis in November, shortly after easily winning a ninth term to the House.
“Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better,” his family wrote in a statement. “He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless.”
Connolly was an outspoken advocate for federal workers, many of whom lived in his district in Fairfax County. He authored the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 that established a framework for telework across government. He consistently introduced legislation promoting pay raises for federal employees.
He was also a harsh critic of the second Trump administration’s efforts to rollback protections for federal workers.
He helped write the 2014 Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, known as FITARA, which sought to streamline how the government buys technology. He also championed the Modernizing Government Technology Act, which established the Technology Modernization Fund.
Even with opposing many of the Trump administration’s initiatives, he leaves a legacy of bipartisanship through across the aisle on FITARA and the MGT Act.
“He got the big picture, so we worked on lot of things together,” said Tom Davis, a Republican who retired from Congress in 2008, clearing the way for Connolly to take his seat. “He was the first call I made when I decided not to run again.”
They were members of opposing parties, but Davis said Connolly picked up where he left off on issues involving federal procurement.
“No one really cares about procurement, but Gerry dug his teeth into it,” Davis said.
“He was a good and decent man who took public service seriously,” said Stan Soloway, a former Defense Department official and a past CEO of the Professional Services Council. “His expertise across the spectrum of government management, IT, procurement, human capital and other issues was unmatched in Congress.”
Jerry McGinn, executive director Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, called Connolly a “tireless advocate” for the government contracting community.
“His passion for the federal and contractor workforce was particularly profound, which he demonstrated time and time again at GovCon events across the region. His voice will be greatly missed,” McGinn said.
Connolly set an example for others, said Greg Baroni, founder and CEO of Attain Enterprises.
“He was a true public servant – principled, passionate and deeply committed to the people he served. His leadership, sharp intellect, and unwavering dedication to our Northern Virginia community and to the nation set a powerful example,” Baroni said. “His positive impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Prior to joining Congress, Connolly served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for 14 years and five were as chairman.
“But more important than his accomplishments in elected office, Gerry lived by the ethos of ‘bloom where you are planted,’” the family wrote.
