VA Secretary Faces Scrutiny Over 80,000 Job Cut 'Goal' Amid Bipartisan Push to Protect Services

In response to mounting pressure from lawmakers in early May, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins clarified the widely circulated figure of 80,000 potential job cuts. He emphasized that this number represents “a goal to look at restructuring,” rather than a definitive count of impending firings. During a testimony before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Collins encountered intense scrutiny regarding the agency's layoffs in February and the potential impact of future budget cuts on veteran care.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently terminated 2,400 employees, including a number of veterans, across two separate rounds of dismissals. A federal judge has issued a temporary block on the second wave, yet Collins provided limited details regarding potential future reductions. He highlighted that frontline roles, including doctors, nurses, and claims processors, will remain intact, while non-essential positions, such as interior designers and diversity-related staff, could face elimination.

Lawmakers have expressed their opposition. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, has reported that the ongoing cuts are causing delays in essential services, such as mammograms and prosthetic fittings. He issued a warning, stating that support personnel are essential.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, is taking action by introducing new legislation aimed at safeguarding the Veterans Crisis Line. This proposed measure would mandate advance notification of any terminations and provide information regarding the employees impacted by such decisions. Collins stated that only “backroom” staff were let go; however, Duckworth referenced a long-serving employee who was terminated and not reinstated, challenging the official narrative.

A second piece of legislation, the VA Employee Fairness Act, seeks to reinstate collective bargaining rights for VA medical personnel. This initiative comes in response to Collins's actions last month, which involved the revocation of these rights in accordance with a Trump-era executive order. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, challenged Collins regarding the rationale behind the decision, inquiring if Veterans Affairs employees represented a national security risk. Collins refrained from providing a direct response.

Legislators assert that the proposed bills are essential for ensuring the protection of veterans' care amid significant administrative turmoil.

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