Wichita Standard

Senator Richard Blumenthal, alongside 35 Democratic Senators, has called on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to reverse the recent termination of over 1,000 VA employees. The Senators have expressed concern that these terminations are detrimental to veterans and their families, especially at a time when there is an increased demand for VA services like mental health care.

Blumenthal and his colleagues have criticized the Trump Administration's decision to lay off a significant number of VA employees, including veterans and military spouses with strong performance records. "Last week, we were outraged by the Administration’s abrupt and indiscriminate termination of tens of thousands of workers across almost every government agency," they wrote in a letter to Secretary Collins. They emphasized that this action threatens the VA workforce needed to support veterans.

The Senators refuted Secretary Collins' claims that the layoffs would not impact VA services negatively. They detailed several adverse effects already observed due to staffing shortages: delays in opening new clinics, halted service lines at hospitals, suspended beds and operating rooms, reduced support lines for caregivers, fired Veterans Crisis Line employees, postponed suicide prevention training sessions, and cutbacks in transportation options for disabled veterans.

The letter stressed how these terminations represent a waste of taxpayer dollars previously invested in recruiting and training these employees. "Rather than putting the interests of veterans first," the Senators noted that Collins had prioritized cost-saving measures.

In conclusion, the Senators urged Collins to reinstate all terminated employees immediately and ensure no further layoffs occur without prior notification to Congress and assessment of potential impacts on veterans’ healthcare and benefits. They expressed readiness to collaborate with Secretary Collins if he prioritizes veterans' needs above all else.