Blumenthal Statement on the Trump VA’s Decision to Abandon Disastrous Goal to Fire More Than 83,000 VA Employees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement following the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will abandon its disastrous plan to fire 83,000 more employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), given the significant amount of VA employees who have already left or will leave the Department by the end of the year.

“This announcement makes clear VA is bleeding employees across the board at an unsustainable rate because of the toxic work environment created by this Administration and DOGE’s slash and trash policies. This is not ‘natural’ attrition, it is not strategic, and it will inevitably impact veterans’ care and benefits—no matter what blanket assurances the VA Secretary hides behind. Make no mistake, this is still a reduction in force—except VA has been able to do it without accountability and transparency to veterans and Congress. It is shameful, and it will continue to ruin veterans’ trust in VA for years to come.”

According to VA’s statement, it is on pace to lose 30,000 employees by the end of the year as a result of Trump and 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.

In a typical year, VA’s workforce has a net gain of 10,000 employees, and this announcement signals a net loss of 30,000 employees. Therefore, VA still stands to lose tens of thousands more employees than ever before—without the accountability and transparency required during an official reduction in force.

In March, an internal memo from senior Trump Administration officials at VA revealed their plans to cut more than 83,000 VA employees by the end of this year. In multiple Congressional hearings, VA Secretary Doug Collins stood by this memo and stated it was his goal to cut more than 83,000 employees at the Department. However, despite multiple Congressional requests, Collins and the Administration repeatedly refused to share any additional information about this plan to cut 83,000 VA employees and what positions would be targeted.

-30-