The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is facing significant downsizing, with layoffs set to begin in June following a comprehensive review of department personnel. This decision comes amid efforts to streamline operations and address what Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins described as bureaucratic inefficiencies hampering veteran services. What specific inefficiencies is Secretary Collins attempting to address through these cuts?
Massive VA Workforce Reduction Planned
The Veterans Administration is preparing for significant layoffs beginning in June, according to an internal memo recently made public. The document instructs the VA’s human resources department to conduct a thorough review of agency operations by June, after which “VA will initiate Department-wide RIF actions,” potentially affecting a substantial portion of its 470,000 employees.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has already warned veterans about forthcoming changes, bluntly telling them to “get used to it.” He pointed to bureaucratic inefficiencies as major obstacles to effective service delivery, stating, “Right now, VA’s biggest problem is that its bureaucracy and inefficiencies are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans.”
JUST IN: The Department of Veteran Affairs just fired another 1,400 employees. They've now fired close to 2,400 people in the last two weeks.
The job cuts will allow more than $100 million each year to be redirected toward veterans' healthcare, benefits, and services. GREAT!
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 25, 2025
Veterans Employed at VA Face Uncertainty
The planned cuts could have a disproportionate impact on veterans themselves, as approximately 25% of VA employees have served in the military. If the rumored reduction targets materialize, potentially affecting tens of thousands of positions, around 20,000 veterans could lose federal employment.
This workforce reduction follows a period of significant growth under the Biden administration, which added approximately 61,000 new VA employees in the fiscal year 2023 alone. The current downsizing represents a dramatic reversal of this expansion and aligns with broader efforts to shrink the federal government.
Mass layoffs have wreaked havoc on scores of federal employees, including at the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies. https://t.co/G8hjNlXSbl pic.twitter.com/5Mf8TCTmAZ
— ABC News (@ABC) February 16, 2025
Impact on Veteran Services and Reactions
The VA recently laid off 2,400 federal employees, providing a preview of the larger cuts to come. These changes are part of a government-wide efficiency initiative led by Elon Musk, which has already reduced the federal workforce by approximately 100,000 through various means, including layoffs and buyouts.
Veterans currently employed by the department have expressed significant concerns about their futures and the continuity of services for those who depend on the VA. One VA-employed veteran compared the current uncertainty to combat experiences but noted the stark difference in terms of personal agency and support systems available in the present situation.