Concerns Rise Over VA Staff Cuts Amid Ongoing Care Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Concerns are growing regarding the impact of planned staff cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as officials try to meet President Donald Trump‘s goal of reducing the workforce by 15%. On May 10, 2025, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins defended the staffing reductions, claiming they would not hinder veteran care. However, many veterans and staff are skeptical.

Nationwide, 11,273 VA employees have applied for deferred resignation, with nurses, medical support assistants, and social workers among the most affected. “Veterans’ lives are on the line,” said one VA doctor, expressing fears that cuts will reduce the quality of care for millions of veterans relying on the VA medical system.

In an April Senate hearing, Collins faced accusations of fearmongering when he stated that no doctors or nurses would be fired. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal challenged this, arguing that the goal of reverting the VA to its 2019 size would compromise care quality. “It simply cannot be done,” Blumenthal said.

The VA employs about 470,000 staff, primarily health care providers at 1,380 facilities across the U.S. The agency has indicated that while employees can apply for deferred resignations, approvals for health care staff will be limited to ensure continuity of care.

The reality of staffing shortages at the VA is concerning. A survey by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America revealed that 81% of veterans are already worried that federal cuts might directly affect their benefits and health care access. “Those are the people we need right now to answer phones, talk to veterans,” said veteran Alex Maldonado during a protest outside a Tucson VA facility.

Though Collins promises no cuts to benefits or services, VA employees report ongoing stress regarding job security, which indirectly affects patient care. “The mental stress so many people are working under,” one anonymous employee mentioned, “affects how we care for patients.”

With the deadline for deferred resignation applications extended to May 16, the VA faces mounting pressure to clarify how these cuts will impact services for veterans. As the agency navigates these changes, the risk of long-term consequences for veteran care raises significant concerns.