Democratic lawmakers are calling recent layoffs plaguing Veterans Affairs a betrayal of those who served after nearly 1,400 Veterans Affairs workers were axed Monday as a part President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's overhaul of the U.S. government.
Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a Democratic member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, blasted the administration's decision during a CNN appearance.
"When you're cutting jobs from folks that are actually answering those suicide hotlines, how is that in the service of our veterans?" Budzinski said.
Budzinski: "We saw just yesterday another round of layoffs at the VA -- 1,400 more people. When we're trying to address veterans suicide rates, when you're cutting jobs for folks that are actually answering those suicide hotlines, how is that in the service of our veterans?" pic.twitter.com/SE7R0jNI9q
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 25, 2025
Monday's layoffs mark the second round of VA job cuts this month, pushing total dismissals since January to nearly 2,500.
"We can find efficiencies. We can find ways to cut red tape. I've actually introduced bipartisan legislation on the house Veterans Affairs Committee to cut through some of those red tape, that red tape that exists within the VA to help veterans get easier access to care. I think we can, as Democrats and Republicans be looking at those types of efficiencies. But that's not what this administration is doing," Budzinski added.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the cuts will save around $83 million annually, with funds redirected to veteran benefits and healthcare.
"These moves will not hurt VA health care, benefits, or beneficiaries," Collins wrote in a statement per AirForceTimes, calling it "a change for the better."
However, some lawmakers and VA employees are not convinced. While Collins maintains mission-critical positions, including Veterans Crisis Line responders, are not impacted, hotline support staff were reportedly among those let go.
"It is understaffed, actually," Budzinski clarified when asked on CNN whether the VA was bloated with unnecessary workers.
The latest wave of dismissals is part of a sweeping restructuring effort, with Trump tapping Musk, now head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to give the federal workforce a facelift.
Over the weekend, a bluntly worded email landed in federal employees' inboxes—justify your job or face possible termination. Lawmakers are pushing back. California Rep. Mark Takano, the top Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, warned the firings would do more harm than good.
"I am deeply disturbed by Secretary Collins' continued actions that are harming veterans, military spouses, civil servants and their families," Takano said, according to AirForceTimes.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal also accused VA Secretary Doug Collins of treating dedicated employees as disposable.
"Make no mistake, these actions are destroying the trust veterans have in VA," Blumenthal said in a statement.
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