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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing for a massive workforce reduction, planning to eliminate over 80,000 jobs as part of a broad reorganization effort. The move, detailed in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press, aims to reduce VA staffing to pre-2020 levels. The cuts come as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to streamline government agencies, raising concerns about potential impacts on veterans’ healthcare and services.
VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek directed agency leaders to prepare for the workforce reductions, stating that the goal is to “resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure.” The memo also instructs VA officials to coordinate with the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement the reductions in a “pragmatic and disciplined” manner.
Impact on Veterans’ Services
Despite assurances from VA Secretary Doug Collins that the cuts will not affect veterans’ healthcare or benefits, advocacy groups and lawmakers have raised alarms.
“What’s going to happen is the VA is not going to perform as well for veterans, and veterans are going to get harmed,” said Michael Missal, former VA Inspector General, who was dismissed by Trump last month. Missal emphasized that his oversight had saved the agency $45 billion, warning that the cuts could create inefficiencies and service delays.
Brent Reiffer, a Marine veteran and advocate with the Wounded Warrior Project, echoed concerns about the potential impact. “If you draw that to a conclusion, sometimes veterans just give up and don’t seek care,” he said. “That’s the real danger here.”
Political Backlash and Congressional Response
Congressional Democrats have strongly opposed the cuts. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, accused the administration of prioritizing cost-cutting over veterans’ well-being.
“Their plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans’ care, balancing the budget on the backs of those who served,” Blumenthal said in a statement.
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expressed concerns but stopped short of opposing the plan outright. “I have questions about the impact these reductions could have on the delivery of services,” he said.
The Trump administration defends the move as necessary for efficiency. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated, “The president refuses to accept the VA bureaucracy and bloat that has hindered veterans’ ability to receive timely and quality care.”
With the reorganization set for August, veterans and lawmakers continue to debate whether the move will lead to improved efficiency—or a decline in care for those who served.
