• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to cut over 80,000 jobs to return to 2019 staffing levels.
• Veterans' groups and Democratic lawmakers have condemned the cuts as damaging to veterans' services.
• Secretary Doug Collins insists the restructuring will not affect healthcare benefits for veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to initiate a sweeping reorganization aimed at cutting more than 80,000 jobs as part of President Trump's ongoing effort to streamline government operations through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk. This decision, detailed in an internal memo, seeks to resize the VA's workforce to around 400,000 employees, a shift from the current level of approximately 470,000.

According to HuffPost, the restructuring plan will officially commence in August 2025. Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek outlined the mandates to trim staffing levels while maintaining a focus on improving efficiency and service delivery. However, critics, including various veterans' groups and Democratic lawmakers, have expressed vehement opposition to the cuts, labeling them a "shameful betrayal" of those who have served in the military.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who has been vocal in his concerns, stated that the cuts prioritize budgetary constraints over essential services for veterans, further emphasizing that "this plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans’ care" and could significantly undermine care options for the veterans community.

Secretary Collins defended the plan, asserting that it aims to eliminate waste and enhance the VA's ability to serve its constituents effectively. He claimed, "This administration is finally going to give veterans what they want," as reported by The Hill.

Former VA Secretary David Shulkin voiced skepticism about the approach, arguing that it's difficult to achieve excellence by "slashing" resources rather than focusing on structural improvements. He highlighted the ongoing issues within the VA, including rising wait times and increasing veteran suicides, making the proposed cuts even more problematic during this critical time.

The proposed cuts come on the heels of recent layoffs, which have already seen thousands of employees terminated from the VA in an apparent effort to reduce the department's bureaucratic footprint. Critics highlight that more than 25% of the VA's workforce consists of veterans, raising further concerns about the implications for those who depend on the agency for healthcare services.

As the Trump administration pushes forward with this agenda, many veterans fear a deterioration in the quality of care they have come to rely upon. There are calls from various stakeholders for a reconsideration of how changes are implemented, emphasizing that veterans should not bear the brunt of budgetary constraints.

For ongoing updates, refer to the original articles from the Reuters and VOA News.