Department of Veterans Affairs Plans to Cut 70,000 Jobs
By The Chronicle Collective Updated March 5, 2025 8:21 pm ET
The Trump administration revealed plans on Wednesday aiming to cut tens of thousands of jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, a decision aimed at boosting efficiency but critics fear this will affect the future of veterans’ care. The cuts, set to begin in August, mark a significant step in a broader push to shrink the federal workforce, sources say.
According to Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, the department intends to reduce its staff from about 470,000 to 398,000 employees. In a video posted to X, Collins stressed that the layoffs would spare healthcare and benefits for veterans and their families. “For many years, veterans have been asking for a more efficient, accountable, and transparent VA,” he said. “This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want.” Reports indicate that hiring will continue for essential positions despite the reductions.
The plan stems from a partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency, a new agency led by Elon Musk. A memo issued Tuesday by Christopher Syrek, the VA’s chief of staff, outlined the strategy: eliminate waste, streamline management, and shrink the department’s footprint. The cuts are scheduled to roll out in August, sources confirm, as part of an aggressive effort to reshape federal operations.
The VA has already taken steps in this direction. Last month, more than 1,400 probationary workers—those in their first or second year—lost their jobs. Earlier, in January, several dozen staff tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs were also dismissed, according to department records.
The announcement has sparked sharp criticism. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called the cuts a direct attack on veterans’ services. He tied the plan to the PACT Act, a 2022 law expanding healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. “Their plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans’ care, balancing the budget on the backs of those who served,” Blumenthal said. “It’s a shameful betrayal.”
Labor groups echoed his concerns. The American Federation of Government Employees, representing over 300,000 VA workers, warned that the layoffs could clog the system. “Veterans and their families will suffer unnecessarily, and the will of Congress will be ignored,” said Everett Kelley, the union’s president. Longer wait times for medical care and benefits top their list of worries.
This move fits into a larger Trump administration goal to trim federal agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, has already overseen thousands of layoffs across the government, though legal challenges have slowed its progress. Lawsuits filed in recent months question whether the administration has the authority to enact such widespread cuts, sources report.
The PACT Act looms large in this debate. Passed in 2022, it broadened support for veterans harmed by toxic exposure during service—a hard-won victory for advocates. Critics argue that a smaller workforce could hobble its rollout, leaving veterans in the lurch. Supporters counter that a leaner VA can still deliver top-notch care by shedding excess bureaucracy.
The stakes are high as August nears. Proponents of the cuts say they’re a necessary fix for an overgrown system, promising veterans a more responsive agency. Detractors see a gamble that could unravel years of progress in veterans’ services. With legal battles simmering and Capitol Hill divided, the outcome remains uncertain.
