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

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) demanded answers from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over reports that the Trump Administration is considering a plan to allow avian flu to spread unchecked through poultry farms. Senator Gallego warned that this reckless plan would threaten Arizona’s farming economy, significantly raise egg prices, and increase the risk of crossover to humans.  “Allowing the virus to continue spreading poses an unacceptable risk, not only to livestock and farmers but also to public health. Scientific leaders fear that uninhibited spread would not only increase casualties in birds, but it also increases the risk of

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is backing legislation to ensure public officials and their families cannot exploit their positions for financial gain. The bills he is supporting include the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, the Curbing Officials’ Income and Nondisclosure (COIN) Act, and the End Crypto Corruption Act. “As elected officials, the American people deserve to know that every decision we make is in the best interest of the country – not the best interest of our own bank accounts,” said Senator Gallego. “Whether it’s Members of Congress trading stocks on inside information or the Trump family profiting off so-called Meme Coins, it’s clear that more must be done to