Wichita Standard

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has expressed concern over the Trump Administration's recommendation to terminate all federal probationary employees, which includes recently hired Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff. The directive from Trump's Office of Personnel Management does not provide exemptions for VA doctors, nurses, and police officers—roles that are already experiencing shortages.

Blumenthal criticized the move, stating: “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 - solely because they have less due process rights and employment protections than other employees."

He further argued that firing these probationary employees is not beneficial for veterans or cost-effective. "Make no mistake – Trump is looking to fire probationary employees because it is easy, not because it is good for veterans or cost effective. In fact, it is a massive waste of taxpayer dollars to fire employees the Department just invested months into recruiting, vetting, and training," he added.

Blumenthal urged VA Secretary Doug Collins to prioritize veterans' needs and resist any politically motivated layoffs. He highlighted concerns about ongoing policies such as Elon Musk’s DOGE initiatives and Trump's hiring freeze that he believes harm veterans.

The administration's policies affecting VA employees include President Trump's “‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” which mandates hiring only one employee for every four who leave, aiming for a 75% workforce reduction. Additionally, there is a continued hiring freeze impacting essential roles in healthcare delivery and benefits processing for veterans.

Furthermore, Elon Musk’s “Fork in the Road” buyout offers compel VA employees to choose between their commitment to serving veterans or allegiance to presidential directives.