U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Headquarters, 2008 (Photo: NCinDC)
The VA has laid off more than 1,000 employees as part of a Trump initiative to reduce the federal workforce. Announced Thursday night, the layoffs target workers still in their probationary periods and are projected to save approximately $98 million annually. VA officials said the savings will be redirected toward improving health care, benefits, and services for Veterans and their families.
“At VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on Veteran care,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “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.”
The VA employs roughly 479,000 individuals in roles ranging from health care and benefits processing to memorial services and program support. Of those, about 43,000 employees are within their probationary periods. VA officials noted that most probationary employees were exempt from the cuts because they serve in “mission-critical positions” or are covered by federal workers’ unions.
While VA leadership emphasized that services for Veterans will not be affected, the layoffs have drawn criticism from lawmakers and union representatives. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), ranking member of the U.S Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, described the move as a “massive waste of taxpayer dollars” and questioned the decision to dismiss recently trained employees.
“It is reprehensible to target recently hired federal employees — particularly those who have chosen to serve Veterans — solely because they have fewer employment protections than other employees,” Blumenthal said.
The dismissals came shortly after the White House closed a buyout program offering severance packages to federal employees in exchange for voluntary resignations. The program aimed for 200,000 participants but received only about 75,000 takers. Hours before the layoffs were announced, Democratic lawmakers and union officials protested outside VA headquarters in Washington, D.C., raising concerns about how the cuts might affect services.
Collins reiterated that Veterans and their families should not expect disruptions. “To be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits, or beneficiaries,” he stated. “In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
Sources within the department reported that at least one probationary employee at the Veterans Crisis Line was affected. VA officials said supervisors could request exemptions for certain staff members, although they were given a limited time to make those appeals.
The layoffs, effective immediately, are part of the department’s strategy to boost operational efficiency and ensure that resources are allocated directly to Veteran services. “These changes are about ensuring that every dollar we spend directly benefits those we serve,” Collins said.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
