It’s too soon to know what the Tri-City repercussions will be from the federal government’s mass layoffs and tariff wars. 

But Tri-Citians are already concerned. 

In a recent poll we conducted asking whether the federal workforce reduction mandates would impact the Tri-Cities’ economy, 85% of respondents believed they would. While this is not a scientific poll, it provides a snapshot of the business community’s concerns. What’s noteworthy is the rapid response to the poll, perhaps the quickest we’ve seen in our year of running these surveys. Feel free to weigh in as the poll is open through March 31. 

It’s easy to get caught up in fears and debates surrounding the federal changes, but it’s important to note that the Tri-Cities’ reliance on federal dollars has been shifting for years.  

The federal footprint in the region is shrinking, “whether measured by relative headcount or relative payroll,” as D. Patrick Jones points out in this month’s Benton Franklin trends column on page A19. Jones is the executive director for Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis. 

Still, these statistics won’t provide solace for the hundreds of local federal workers who lost their jobs in recent weeks or for current federal workers worrying about whether they’ll be able to keep theirs.  

The tariff war also is of concern as several regional companies export billions of dollars worth of agricultural commodities to countries beyond our borders.  

So while it’s easy to get spun up about the issues on a federal level, it’s important to remember that the Tri-Cities has shown resilience in adapting to changes over the years. The region has diversified significantly over the past few decades, with a growing emphasis on technology, health care and energy. This could prove vital in sustaining the area’s economy, even if federal job losses and tariffs have a short-term effect. 

As financial experts frequently remind investors during turbulent times, it’s crucial to take the long view. While short-term impacts may be concerning, the Tri-Cities has shown resilience and adaptability through economic shifts before. Let’s buckle up for the ride ahead.