VA's workforce reduction aims to reduce the number of doctors and nurses leaving their positions
Rewritten Article:
The Trump administration's DOGE initiative, aimed at trimming the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce by 15%, has sparked worry among veterans and healthcare professionals. According to data shared with NPR, the VA counts 11,273 employees who've applied for deferred resignation, with top positions like nurses, medical support assistants, and social workers leading the pack.
VA head Doug Collins stands firm that staff cuts won't affect veteran healthcare. In a lively Senate hearing, he accused Democrats of drumming up fear. "I won't let you sow fear among my veterans and employees, because no one's discussing the firing of doctors or nurses," Collins shot back at Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut's question. Blumenthal lambasted Collins for failing to clarify how he'd achieve his stated goal of returning VA to its 2019 size without compromising care.
The VA, the second-largest department in the U.S., employs approximately 470,000 people, with more than 371,000 being healthcare professionals. Serving across 1,380 facilities nationwide, these pros work tirelessly to provide care to veterans at 170 VA medical centers and 1,193 outpatient clinics.
VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz explained to NPR that the agency will exercise caution when approving deferred resignations for healthcare staff. "While all VA employees may apply for these programs, those providing direct or indirect care to veterans will only be approved in rare cases when their departure serves the mission," he clarified.
On the heels of concerns about an already existing shortage of medical providers at the VA, Sen. Bernie Sanders probed Collins regarding the issue. "Do you acknowledge there's a shortage of doctors, nurses, and social workers in the VA?" Sanders asked. Collins acknowledged the shortage, stating that every healthcare system faces the same challenges, adding that the VA is constantly working to recruit and retain medical staff.
Collins aimed to boost productivity, eliminate waste and bureaucracy, and improve veteran healthcare and benefits with the workforce reduction plan. But some vets and VA staff, 25% of whom are veterans themselves, worry about the plan's impact on their care. Over 81% of veterans polled by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America expressed concerns that recent federal cuts could affect benefits and healthcare.
At a May 2 protest outside the VA facility in Tucson, Ariz., Alex Maldonado, a veteran and organizer with Veterans for Peace, stated, "These are the people we need right now to answer phones, talk to veterans, talk to us about our appointments, just somebody to talk to." Dan Clare from Disabled American Veterans echoed Maldonado's concerns, stating, "We want answers on who's being cut, what jobs are going away, and how that can affect veterans."
A VA employee who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retribution confided, "The mental stress so many people are under, uncertainty about their jobs, indirectly affects patient care." As a result, the VA extended the deadline for deferred resignation applications from April 30 to May 16. Employees approved for deferred resignation would leave the agency by September 30, going on administrative leave either July 1 or seven days after signing the necessary paperwork if they're age 40 or older, according to myfedbenefitshelp.com. 📝 Copyright 2025 NPR
Enrichment Insights:
- The VA plans to cut its workforce by centralizing services and eliminating jobs, such as moving and eliminating payroll jobs[4].
- The VA assures that medical staff and claims processors will not be directly impacted by the workforce reductions, aiming to maintain healthcare quality[5].
- Both Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns over the proposed VA cuts, questioning their potential impact on veteran services[2][5].
- Secretary Doug Collins considers the target of 80,000 cuts as a "predecisional" goal that might change based on further assessments[2].
- The government's DOGE initiative, aimed at reducing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce, has instilled fear among veterans and healthcare professionals due to potential deferred resignations of key positions like nurses, medical support assistants, and social workers.
- Doug Collins, the VA head, insists that staff cuts won't negatively impact veteran healthcare, refuting accusations of fearmongering by Democrats in a Senate hearing.
- In a bid to maintain the VA's status as the second-largest department in the U.S., the organization employs more than 371,000 healthcare professionals across 1,380 facilities, addressing medical-conditions in 170 VA medical centers and 1,193 outpatient clinics.
- VA press secretary, Pete Kasperowicz, clarified that the agency will exercise caution when approving deferred resignations for healthcare staff, ensuring that their departure will only serve the mission in rare cases.
- In light of concerns about an existing shortage of medical providers at the VA, Sen. Bernie Sanders questioned Collins regarding the issue, to which Collins acknowledged the shortage but also addressed the systemic challenges faced by all healthcare systems.
- Concerned veterans and VA staff, including many veterans themselves, have expressed apprehension over the government's workforce reduction plan, fearing its potential impact on health-and-wellness services and general news coverage.
