'Unthinkable': 'Massive layoffs at VA' as Trump tries to balance 'the budget on the back of veterans'

14 February

Former Representative Doug Collins (R-GA), U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, testifies before a Senate Veterans Affairs committee confirmation hearing , in Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced major layoffs on Thursday, a move condemned by Democratic lawmakers, veterans and experts. As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk look to slash the federal government, the layoffs — amounting to more than 1,000 people — will reportedly save the department more than $98 million annually, according to a press release.

“I’m happy to partner with [the Department of Government Efficiency] to find things we need to get rid of so we can put the money where it belongs… back with our Veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said.

“The dismissals announced today are part of a government-wide Trump Administration effort to make agencies more efficient, effective and responsive to the American People,” according to the press release.

Veteran Scott Peoples told ABC11 he was bothered by "just the way they've gone about it and just taking a wrecking ball to the federal government and creating chaos everywhere and not having a plan of maybe phasing out certain jobs or letting people know.”

Veterans have supported Trump, with about 60 percent backing him in 2024.

CBS News Justice Correspondent Scott MacFarlane called the move “a once unthinkable concept for an agency that operates 100+ major hospitals and many hundreds more clinics and processes veterans benefits in a post on X.

“Massive layoffs of VA employees – including nurses, doctors, and positions already facing critical shortages nationwide – is nothing more than an attempt to balance the budget on the back of veterans. It is reprehensible to target recently hired federal employees – particularly those who have chosen to serve veterans,” Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told MacFarlane.

“I’m hearing from longtime VA researchers in my home state of Washington who are right now being told to immediately stop their research and pack their bags,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said in a statement, “not because their work isn’t desperately needed, but because Trump and Elon have decided to fire these researchers on a whim.”

“You’re basically harassing your own workforce at the end of the day,” Paul Light, an expert on the federal government and professor emeritus of public service at New York University, told the Guardian regarding layoffs at federal agencies. “You’re undermining the engine that you want to run.”

Collins said the change would not affect services for veterans.

“At VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on Veteran care. We thank these employees for their service to VA. This was a tough decision, but ultimately it’s the right call to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve,” he said in a statement. “To be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”

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