Wichita Standard

Senator Richard Blumenthal has introduced the Putting Veterans First Act in response to actions taken by former President Donald Trump that allegedly targeted federal veteran employees. Blumenthal, who serves as the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member, described his bill as "a call to action at a moment of crisis for veterans." He claims that policies under Trump and Elon Musk have adversely affected the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), risking lives and livelihoods.

The proposed legislation aims to reinstate veterans and military community members who were terminated during what Blumenthal describes as "mass terminations" orchestrated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It also seeks to protect VA employees from future cuts, preserve VA care quality, and ensure transparency in staffing and claims processing.

Blumenthal’s act includes measures to prevent hiring freezes at the VA if they would increase costs. It mandates Congressional notification before any office closures or program realignments within the VA. The bill also addresses transparency issues, requiring timely responses from the VA to Congressional inquiries.

The proposal further seeks to safeguard veterans' private data from DOGE access without proper authorization. It calls for an assessment of financial impacts resulting from contract cancellations at the VA due to DOGE policies.

Mental health care provisions are included for both current and former civil servants impacted by terminations. Employment assistance is also outlined for those affected by these mass firings, with directives for federal programs to aid in their reemployment.

Blumenthal intends to formally introduce this legislation later this week, emphasizing its importance given that veterans constitute 30% of the federal workforce. An internal memo reportedly revealed plans under Trump's administration to cut over 80,000 VA employees—a move opposed by Blumenthal and other Senate Democrats.

Despite efforts by Blumenthal and his colleagues to pass a resolution condemning these terminations, it was blocked by Senate Republicans. They continue advocating for reinstating fired veterans with full back pay and benefits amidst concerns about transparency regarding exact termination figures.