The Trump administration is facing mounting criticism following reports of an internal memo suggesting that it will cut over 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The reorganization aims to return the VA’s staffing levels to 2019 numbers, reducing the workforce to just under 400,000 employees.
VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek informed top officials of the Trump administration’s objective to downsize the agency, which had expanded under the Biden administration, namely, to support veterans impacted by toxic burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act.
The memo directs senior staff to prepare for a restructuring come August, stating that the workforce must be “resized and tailored” to meet the administration’s new mission.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins defended the move, insisting in a social media video that the cuts would not impact veterans’ healthcare or benefits. “This administration is finally going to give veterans what they want,” Collins stated, echoing President Donald Trump’s (R) broader government efficiency initiative.
However, the proposed cuts have alarmed veterans’ groups and lawmakers across party lines. More than 25% of the VA’s workforce is comprised of veterans, and advocates fear the layoffs could result in decreased access to care.
Brent Reiffer, a Marine veteran and advocate with the Wounded Warrior Project, expressed concern that the uncertainty could discourage veterans from seeking care, arguing, “confusion that leads to frustration results in veterans not getting the care they deserve.”
Democrats have vehemently opposed the plan, with New York Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) denouncing it as a “shameful betrayal” that prioritizes private sector profits over veterans’ well-being. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) similarly criticized the impending cuts, challenging President Trump and Musk to justify their decision.
San Antonio is home to more than 90,000 veterans who risked everything to serve our country. I challenge Trump and Elon Musk to come to our city and explain why tax cuts for billionaires matter more than their lives.
Trump’s plan to fire tens of thousands of VA employees is… https://t.co/Zb2vu4g6Sx
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) March 5, 2025
“San Antonio is home to more than 90,000 veterans who risked everything to serve our country,” Rep. Castro shared on X. “I challenge Trump and Elon Musk to come to our city and explain why tax cuts for billionaires matter more than their lives.”
“Trump’s plan to fire tens of thousands of VA employees is illegal, and I will not support a budget that makes harmful cuts to VA programs or services,” he concluded.
