Blumenthal Statement on Trump's VA Plan to Eliminate More Than 35,000 Health Care Jobs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement following reporting from The Washington Post detailing the Trump Administration's plan to eliminate as many as 35,000 health care jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this month, including unfilled positions for doctors, nurses, and support staff.

"VA Secretary Collins' continued cuts to VA's workforce are incomprehensible and inexcusable. At a time where VA has already lost more than 30,000 employees, his plan to eliminate tens of thousands of unfilled positions, including doctors and nurses, is totally unacceptable. Unfilled does not mean unnecessary- and there are no excuses for failing to fill these mission critical jobs in the first place. Removing these jobs will stretch thin a staff already struggling to meet rising workloads- leading to longer wait times and reduced access to care for veterans. Secretary Collins must be held accountable and immediately provide Congress and veterans more information around these secret plans to shrink VA's essential workforce amid the Republican's ongoing efforts to slash Americans' access to health care."

VA already lost more than 30,000 employees between January and September of this year as a result of President Trump and VA Secretary Collin's hiring freeze, deferred resignations, early retirements, and the significant number of VA staff who have quit since the Trump Administration took office in January 2025 due to draconian workforce policies.

The removal of these positions would put VA at pre-PACT Act staffing levels. More than one million veterans newly enrolled in VA health care as a result of expanded eligibility under the PACT Act, and millions more have increased reliance on VA because of toxic exposed illnesses and injuries.

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