Wichita Standard

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, along with Democratic colleagues from both the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, have raised concerns over a plan by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cut more than 80,000 jobs. This plan, attributed to an internal memo from VA Secretary Doug Collins, aims to reduce the workforce to fiscal year 2019 levels.

The committee members expressed their alarm about the potential negative effects on veterans. They stated: “This planned [Reduction in Force] and [Reorganization Plan], coupled with the ongoing hiring freeze and illegal terminations of probationary employees, will be catastrophic for the agency; its workforce; and for the veterans, caregivers, and survivors it serves.” They further questioned how such a significant reduction could occur without impacting healthcare and benefits.

The Democrats highlighted that reducing staff back to pre-PACT Act levels contradicts Congressional intent. The PACT Act of 2022 expanded veterans' benefits significantly, necessitating an increase in VA staff to manage increased demand. “These new hires made the Department more efficient and productive,” they noted.

In their letter to Secretary Collins, the committee members demanded detailed information about the proposed job cuts. This includes a full copy of the leaked memo, details about personnel involved in implementing these plans, timelines for execution, and future staffing objectives.

The letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elisa Slotkin (D-MI), as well as other Democratic members of Congress.