Leaked Trump Admin memo hints at cuts at VA: report

A leaked Veterans Administration memo reveals staffing reductions at facilities serving former military members, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Under the leadership of former far-right GOP lawmaker Doug Collins, the VA is planning to eliminate up to 35,000 positions, The Washington Post reported. The agency has already faced persistent criticism for inadequate staffing levels, which have contributed to extended wait times for veterans seeking care.

The VA responded, confirming that 25,000 cuts were being made, but that they were all open roles, many of which were created during the COVID pandemic, and that they would have no effect on the quality of care. An administration spokesman said no actual employee would lose their job.

According to the Post, the open roles at the Veterans Health Administration that will be affected include doctors, nurses, and support staff. The report states, "Agency leaders have instructed managers across the Veterans Health Administration, the agency's health care arm, to identify thousands of openings that can be canceled. Employees warn that the contraction will add pressure to an already stretched system, contributing to longer wait times for care."

These cuts follow approximately 30,000 jobs that have already been eliminated, The Washington Post reported.

"The agency hopes that the cuts will reduce the health care workforce to as little as 372,000 employees, a 10 percent reduction from last year, according to a memo shared with regional leaders last month and obtained by The Washington Post."

In a statement to Raw Story, Veterans Administration spokesman Pete Kasperowicz said, "No VA employees are being removed, and this will have zero impact on veteran care.

"VA is simply eliminating about 25,000 open and unfilled positions – mostly COVID-era roles that are no longer necessary. All of these positions are unfilled and most have not been filled for more than a year, underscoring how they are no longer needed."

Collins responded to the Post's story with a post on X.

"This is fake news from serial plagiarist Lisa Rein (@FedGirlWaPo)," his account posted.

"No VA employees are being removed, and this will have zero impact on Veteran care. All we’re doing is taking unfilled and unnecessary positions off the books. Most of these positions haven’t been filled in a year."

The reorganization precedes an expected announcement next week regarding Collins' plans to reduce the network of 18 regional offices that oversee VA hospitals and medical centers.

Thomas Dargon Jr., deputy general counsel of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized the proposal, saying, "The VA has been chronically understaffed for years, and employees are obviously going to be facing the brunt of any further job cuts or reorganization that results in employees having to do more work with less."

Colorado VA nurse Sharda Fornarino added, "We're going to continue to do more with less. We're going to continue to be overworked."

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