VA Fires Over 1,000 Employees in Major Federal Workforce Reduction

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2025 — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced late Thursday that it has terminated the employment of more than 1,000 workers still in their probationary period, as part of a government-wide initiative to downsize the federal workforce under the Trump administration.

These terminations represent roughly 2.3% of the VA’s total probationary employee count. VA Secretary Doug Collins stated that while this was a difficult decision, it is necessary to redirect approximately $98 million annually back into veterans’ care and support services. “We thank these employees for their service to VA,” Collins remarked, emphasizing the move is aimed at enhancing the support for veterans, their families, and caregivers.

Approximately 479,000 individuals are employed by the VA, with about 43,000 currently on probation. Most of these probationary employees are supposedly protected from dismissal due to their positions being classified as “mission-critical.” Nonetheless, sources indicate that at least one employee from the Veterans Crisis Line was let go during the layoffs.

These reductions coincide with an urgent directive from the White House, which recently closed out a buyout offer for federal employees, incentivizing resignations with compensation equivalent to eight months of severance pay. While this offer attracted around 75,000 individuals, it fell short of the 200,000 anticipated by administration officials.

Concerns over the potential repercussions of the layoffs were swift. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, criticized the dismissals as targeting recently hired employees who have diminished rights compared to tenured workers. “This is a reprehensible decision that puts veterans’ support at risk,” Blumenthal stated.

Union representatives echoed these concerns, asserting that the decision reflects an overarching goal to diminish federal workforce capacity without regard for operational efficiency. “These moves are about gutting the federal government and prioritizing cronyism over competence,” claimed a spokesperson from the American Federation of Government Employees.

Critics further pointed out that the firings could undermine already strained resources within the VA, which faces operational challenges related to personnel shortages, particularly in health care services. Blumenthal warned that the eliminations may lead to increased closures of operating rooms and a reduction of intensive care unit beds.

Former employees expressed shock and disappointment over their abrupt cancellations. One VA worker, who held a previous federal position for over a decade, stated, “I was devastated to learn my probationary status rendered me vulnerable despite my long experience.” Another terminated worker described the decision as an impersonal “copy/paste firing” that completely disregards the human cost involved.

This federal initiative comes as President Trump advocates for a reduction in government size, arguing that the federal workforce is excessively bloated. However, the administration’s strategy has drawn ire from legislators, many of whom fear that the abrupt dismissals will yield adverse outcomes for the nation’s veterans.

With the VA’s intentions to enhance veterans’ services through these budget cuts, officials assured that the layoffs would not negatively impact health care or benefits. Collins declared, “In the coming weeks, VA will unveil plans to use these resources to help veterans and their families.”