W
ASHINGTON — An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing for a major overhaul, which includes the elimination of more than 80,000 positions within the vital agency that serves our nation’s veterans.
Christopher Syrek, the VA’s chief of staff, shared with senior officials in a meeting on Tuesday that the agency’s goal is to reduce its workforce to levels seen in 2019, which was just under 400,000 employees. Achieving this target would require significant layoffs, a direct result of the VA’s expansion during the Biden administration aimed at supporting veterans impacted by burn pits, as established in the 2022 PACT Act.
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The memo instructs top officials to brace for a comprehensive reorganization of the agency planned for August, aiming to “resize and align the workforce with the agency’s mission and updated structure.” It also encourages officials to work closely with the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency to “act decisively while maintaining a pragmatic and disciplined approach” in line with objectives set during the Trump administration. Government Executive was the first to report on this internal communication.
Many veterans have voiced their concerns about the ongoing cuts at the VA, which have already led to the loss of thousands of jobs and numerous contracts. Notably, over 25% of the VA’s workforce consists of veterans themselves.
The changes at the VA highlight how the Trump administration’s DOGE initiative, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is aggressively pursuing substantial cuts across federal agencies, including those that have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.
Michael Missal, who was the VA’s inspector general for nine years before being dismissed last month as part of Trump’s broader campaign against independent oversight officials, expressed to the AP that the VA is already facing a lack of “expertise” as senior staff either leave or are reassigned under presidential directives.
“The reality is that the VA will not be able to perform at its best for veterans, ultimately causing harm to those it serves,” noted Missal, who attended Trump’s address to Congress as a guest of Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
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Instead of utilizing the missions of inspectors general, whose role is to identify waste and fraud within government agencies, Trump has taken a firm stance against them, bypassing laws requiring a 30-day notice and specific justifications for their dismissals. Missal is currently contesting his termination in court, along with seven other dismissed inspectors general.
Missal described the VA as “a complex and challenging organization” that rivals some of the largest corporations in the United States by size. He defended his efforts during his tenure to improve the agency’s efficiency and responsiveness to veterans, pointing out that oversight by the VA inspector general resulted in savings of $45 billion during his time there.
However, he voiced concerns that Trump’s actions against inspectors general are impairing the ability of those who remain in these roles to carry out their duties effectively.
In Congress, Democratic representatives have criticized the cuts at the VA and other agencies, while Republicans have approached the Trump administration’s changes with caution thus far.
Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate committee overseeing veterans’ affairs, stated that the Trump administration “has launched a full-scale offensive” against the progress the VA has made in expanding services, especially for veterans affected by toxic burn pits.
“Their strategy prioritizes private sector profits over the care of veterans, essentially balancing the budget at the expense of those who have served. This is a disgraceful betrayal, and veterans will suffer the consequences of this unforgivable corruption, incompetence, and immorality,” Blumenthal said in a statement.
Democratic leaders in the House also underscored the ramifications of Trump’s cuts on veterans during a press conference on Wednesday.
“Democrats stand united in declaring that we will not allow our veterans to be viewed as government waste,” proclaimed Rep. Katherine Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the House leadership.
Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
