The Department of Veterans Affairs has significantly cut its Doge-led plan to fire at least 76,000 people.
Leaked memo says veterans will fire more than 76,000
The Veterans Affairs Bureau leadership was said to be in a leaked memo with a massive layoff.
WASHINGTON – The Veterans Affairs Bureau has significantly expanded its Doge-backed plan to remove more than 76,000 employees, and “eliminating the need” to help cut the massive workforce.
A memo leaked from the VA leadership obtained by USA Today and other outlets in March outlined plans to abandon more than 76,000 workers as part of the Trump administration’s extensive efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
The VA has now abandoned its target, it said in its July 7 announcement.
“The division is eliminating the need for massive reductions at a pace to reduce the total VA staff to approximately 30,000 employees by the end of fiscal year 2025.”
The announcement shows that nearly 17,000 VA employees will leave their jobs from the beginning of the year until June 1st, with almost 12,000 leaving by the end of September.
Under former President Adivus Sole Elon Musk and his government efficiency, tens of thousands of federal employees have been banished from widespread looting and from a postponed resignation program that offers acquisitions to allow federal workers to leave their jobs early.
In July, President Donald Trump extended the government-wide employment freeze until October 15th. The freeze he imposed in January by the executive order was scheduled to expire on July 15th.
“We have multiple safeguards to ensure that these staff cuts do not affect the care and benefits of veterans.” Throughout the Doge-led cut, it claims that “mission-critical” positions are exempt from employment freezes and layoffs.
USA Today and other outlets reported in February that some responders of the Veterans Crisis Line, a hotline for veterans at risk of mental health and suicide, had been temporarily fired.
Still, widespread fires and reemployment across the sector have sparked morale and fear among workers who have seriously affected Veterans Hospital, an already significantly understaffed and critical VA-funded research program.
“Amazing start”
Veterans Affairs Doug Collins told Fox News in a July 8 interview that VA leaders had “very thoughtful and very careful research” on the structure of the department before implementing the layoffs, with 350,000 positions being “protected.”
“We’re still a little more ahead. There are a few things we want to do in the future. This is a great start,” he added.
“The VA is not planning to make other major changes to staffing levels beyond the outlined level,” department spokesperson Peter Casperowitz said in a July 7 announcement.
Sen. Jerry Moran, Republican chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, spoke with Collins in a July 7 statement, saying that he “we are grateful that certain veterans are at the heart of the VA’s change.”
Democrats stressed that the workforce cuts still lie in the losses of tens of thousands of VA workers, which have a devastating impact on veteran health care.
“The announcement reveals that the VA will be bleeding employees at unsustainable rates due to the toxic work environment created by this administration and the Doge slash and garbage policies,” said Sen. D-Connecticut, the committee’s top Democrat.
“That’s a shame and will continue to ruin veterans’ confidence in Virginia for years to come,” he added.
However, some unions representing federal workers have celebrated the announcement.
“AFGE members across the country have spoken out, built a coalition and took action, and the plan has been stopped on its track,” Everett Kelly, chairman of the United States Federation of Governments (AFGE), said in a statement. “This is a huge victory for federal workers, veterans and Americans.”
