'Pay your fair share': Ex-Navy submarine officer torches DOGE attacks on vets’ benefits

13 March

The Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by SpaceX/Tesla/X.com leader Elon Musk, are targeting a wide range of federal government agencies for mass layoffs — from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is being gutted, and Trump is proposing eliminating the U.S. Department of Education altogether.

Trump and Musk maintain that they are trying to save the taxpayers money by cutting pork and "waste" from government, but their critics warn that they are removing so much expertise from federal agencies that everything from nuclear safety to air travel to Social Security benefits is in danger.

Another agency being targeted for Trump Administration/DOGE layoffs is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In a biting op-ed published by The Hill on March 13, former U.S. Navy submarine officer Alec Emmert argues that Trump/DOGE cuts are hurting veterans in a big way.

"The veteran community needs to put partisanship aside, come together and look out for our own best interests," writes Emmert, who serves as CEO of the nonprofit Service to School. "While billionaires are eliminating our jobs and considering cutting our benefits, we must make our voices heard. The demand to DOGE's leaders should be simple: Don't think about touching our benefits until you pay your fair share of taxes."

Emmert warns that the Trump Administration/DOGE cuts could harm the U.S. Armed Forces by making military service seem unattractive financially.

"Few veterans come from wealthy backgrounds; America's affluent families do not like to send their children to war," Emmert observes. "Nevertheless, military service offers veterans opportunities for social mobility through its education benefits…. While veterans have typically enjoyed public support and protection, recent DOGE cuts have had a disproportionately negative impact on the community."

Emmert continues, "The indiscriminate firing of federal workers without regard for their veteran status is deeply troubling, as nearly one-third of federal workers served. These firings have included numerous disabled veterans with multiple overseas deployments, with no consideration of their sacrifice."

Alec Emmert's full op-ed for The Hill is available at this link.

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