VA now says it will cut 30,000 jobs – less than half of its original plan of 83,000 positions
WASHINGTON – Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it is reversing course on plans to lay off more than 83,000 employees after intense pushback. In response to the initial plan, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine combat veteran and member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, placed a blanket hold on all VA nominees.
“From the very beginning, I’ve said gutting the VA is a betrayal of the men and women who served this country and would erode veterans’ trust for years to come. That’s why I placed a hold on all nominees to the Department until they reverse course,” said Senator Gallego. “Monday’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction for veterans and the services they rely on, and it shows that our pressure is working. But the fight is far from over. We still don’t know how the remaining 30,000 cuts will impact critical services like the Veterans Crisis Line and healthcare and disability benefits for our veterans. We have to keep up the pressure and continue demanding accountability and transparency.”
Earlier this year, VA Secretary Doug Collins announced plans to slash more than 83,000 positions from the department – nearly a fifth of its workforce. The new plan will eliminate “the need for a large-scale reduction-in-force,” and instead reduce the workforce by approximately 30,000 employees, without the accountability and transparency required during an official reduction in force.
Since the beginning of this year, the VA has already lost about 17,000 employees, with another 12,000 expected to leave by the end of September. In a normal year, the VA typically sees a net increase in its workforce. This year, it will see a net loss of 30,000 employees.
As a Marine Corps combat veteran, Senator Gallego understands firsthand the importance of strong VA services. That’s why he has consistently fought the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the VA and protect the services veterans depend on. Following the initial VA cuts, he sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management and supported a resolution demanding the immediate reinstatement of wrongfully terminated veterans with full back pay and benefits – Senate Republicans blocked it.
7/9/25