VA Layoffs: Are Veterans Affected?
President Donald Trump has been in office for just over a month now and he’s already caused a lot of chaos. He recently ordered layoffs to the federal government, affecting many agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA has laid off more than 1,000 new employees, sparking concerns that there could be significant impact to former service members. The dismissed employees include probationary employees who are noncritical and have served less than two years. The layoffs are expected to save the VA more than $98 million per year. These savings will be redirected toward healthcare, benefits, and other services for VA beneficiaries.
VA leaders can request that employees be exempted from probationary removal. Also, more than 300,000 essential positions were exempt from a hiring freeze.
The Veterans Affairs Secretary, Doug Collins, defended the Trump administration’s recent layoffs. He confirmed that cuts have not been made to critical healthcare or other benefits. However, lawmakers say the firings have endangered the health of veterans and threaten to delay benefits, including benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange.
Collins also said that the VA is making it faster in the Veterans Benefit Act to get decisions on claims. Also, he denied that the VA was cutting a crisis response line. He claims the VA did not cut any veteran crisis line responders who work with the veteran crisis lines.
However, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said this was untrue, as she spoke to two crisis line workers who were fired. In fact, around a dozen people were fired from the Veterans Crisis Line. She called it “a middle finger to our heroes and the law and their lives of service.”
Officials have called on leaders to provide more clarity as to what is happening in the VA. Sen. Angus King says “There is an almost total lack of transparency and communication here.”
However, things are changing rapidly in the government. At least two workers were reinstated to the crisis line after the lawmakers intervened. Also, the VA has scrambled to reinstate some fired healthcare workers as new hires turn to other work out of fear they could be laid off in the near future.
The firings are part of an effort by President Trump and his top advisor, Elon Musk, to radically shrink the federal workforce. The abrupt firings have outraged critics and caused a lot of panic among people who use the services.
Learn More About Veterans Benefits
It’s hard enough for veterans to get the services they need with the current staffing. Layoffs should not be happening within the VA and other important government departments.
If you are having trouble getting the benefits you deserve, contact a White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. We can help handle denied and complex claims. Schedule a consultation today by calling 914-294-2145 or filling out the online form.
Source:
thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5157087-veterans-affairs-doug-collins-cutting-benefits/
