How Will Hiring Freeze Affect Veteran Care?
Since President Donald Trump officially stepped in as president for a second term last month, he’s been going all out. He has been on a roll, signing one bill after another in an effort to make changes to laws and government programs.
On Day 1 of Trump’s presidency, he ordered a government-wide hiring freeze via executive order. This freeze is a serious issue that has lawmakers and former service members worried that they will receive substandard care at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. There is concern that the freeze could prevent critical healthcare roles from being filled, which would make veteran care complicated.
This comes at a time where there is an urgent need to fill critical vacancies for mental health providers and nurses within the VA. Another issue is that thousands of Americans were given job offers for VA positions and now they are receiving notifications that the VA has rescinded their job offers. This is a frustrating situation, as many people have already spent money to relocate. Some have even sold their homes.
The move was made by the Trump administration, which implemented the freeze to thin out what is seen as a bureaucrat-heavy workforce. Trump says his goal is to only hire “competent people who are faithful to the American public.” As a result, veterans and healthcare workers are being left in limbo.
Incoming employees with job offers given prior to when Trump took office on January 20 will be allowed to begin their jobs if their start date was scheduled for a date on or before February 8. All others will have their job offers rescinded.
Lawmakers were quick to express their anger toward the decision. Many expressed that the rescinded job offers would disrupt agency operations. Sen. Bernie Sanders stated that veterans put their lives on the line to defend the United States and are promised healthcare in return. The hiring freeze is unacceptable and veterans deserve better.
Richard Blumenthal, a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member, is calling on Trump to exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze. Veterans care is so critical and a hiring freeze to the VA healthcare system makes no sense. It’s a betrayal to veterans.
The hiring freeze comes at a bad time, as so many VA medical centers already struggle with appointment backlogs and staffing shortages. The freeze will impact patient care and strain local healthcare resources.
Fortunately, the ire did not fall on deaf ears. VA officials have identified more than 300,000 healthcare positions deemed essential and therefore exempt from the freeze. They labeled 39 roles as essential, including nurses, nursing assistants, mental health providers, physical therapists, and prosthetic specialists.
Learn More About Veterans Benefits
Veterans are entitled to various benefits. Understanding benefits for education is important, and you may be entitled to more than you think.
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Source:
thehill.com/policy/defense/5106168-trumps-federal-hiring-freeze-sparks-concerns-about-veterans-care/
