VA Cutting Jobs?
The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to cut tens of thousands of healthcare-related positions, raising new concerns about access to care for America’s veterans.
According to a report published Saturday by The Washington Post, internal agency documents and multiple sources familiar with the plan indicate the VA could eliminate up to 35,000 healthcare jobs as early as this month.
The reported reductions would primarily target vacant or unfilled positions, including roles for doctors, nurses, and medical support staff. While many of the jobs are not currently occupied, critics warn that removing those positions could limit the VA’s ability to meet growing demand for medical services.
The VA has not publicly confirmed the plan. A request for comment from Reuters was not immediately returned.
Internal memos shared with regional leadership reportedly show the agency aims to shrink its healthcare workforce to approximately 372,000 employees, representing about a 10% reduction compared to last year.
The potential layoffs follow an earlier round of workforce reductions. In July, the VA eliminated roughly 30,000 positions, though officials have said the total number of job cuts this fiscal year is lower than initially proposed.
The reported move comes as veterans’ advocacy groups and lawmakers continue to debate whether large-scale staffing reductions could strain an already burdened system — particularly at a time when many veterans face long wait times and limited access to specialized care.
