Lawmakers Protest Job Cuts at Minneapolis VA Amid Trump Budget Cuts

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) — A group of lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, voiced their outrage on Tuesday in response to a wave of job cuts at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, citing a significant reduction in staffing under the Trump administration’s budget cuts.

John Helcl, a recently hired efficiency expert and Army veteran, was one of many who lost their job unexpectedly on February 14 through a text message. The mass layoffs were part of a broader initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce federal waste. Helcl reported that not only were approximately a dozen new employees let go, but their supervisors were also unprepared for the dismissals.

“I understand the need for fiscal responsibility. This is not responsible governance,” Helcl stated. “A government that claims efficiency by discarding its most capable and dedicated workers is like a doctor who claims to have cured a disease by euthanizing the patients.”

Klobuchar revealed that over 2,000 VA workers lost their positions nationwide, with the potential for up to 80,000 cuts overall, raising serious concerns about veterans’ access to care and benefits. “We are witnessing an attack on the care and benefits that these veterans deserve,” she said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acknowledged a “limited number of probationary staff” lost their jobs but assured that this decision would not impact veterans’ health care or services. However, the agency has withheld precise numbers regarding the layoffs, leading to frustration among lawmakers and advocates. The Minnesota Star Tribune has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain more details.

The recent job cuts at the VA come after years of increased staffing to support veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Klobuchar expressed concern that recent reductions jeopardize expanded benefit access for Minnesota veterans.

According to the VA, the budget restructuring aims to save $83 million annually, which could be used for other veteran services. Pete Kasperowicz, VA press secretary, defended the action, stating, “The federal government does not exist to employ people. It exists to serve people,” emphasizing that these roles were not deemed critical to the agency’s mission.

Union officials at the Minneapolis VA reported a growing sense of unease among employees, many of whom are already dealing with increased workloads amid staffing shortages. Jacob Romans, float nurse and president of Local 3669 of the American Federation of Government Employees, noted that approximately 200 staffers pursued union memberships to combat further job cuts.

Romans revealed that among the layoffs were a disabled veteran who facilitated recreational therapy and a grant writer focused on PTSD research. Disturbingly, some terminated employees received letters citing performance issues that contradicted previous positive evaluations, complicating their job searches.

Helcl, who incurred a pay cut to join the VA, was shocked by the sudden termination that left him unable to verify the message due to access issues. Many employees similarly remain in the dark about their status, and Helcl noted that if offered his previous position, it would not be an easy choice to return under such treatment. “That would require a bit of a conversation,” he said.