WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Gallego (D-AZ) joined members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation in writing to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to demand that the administration reverse their proposed staffing and benefits cuts to the VA. The letter was also signed by Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Representatives Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03).
“We write with concern about reports that the Veterans Affairs (VA) Phoenix Health Care System plans to lay off 15% of its staff—around 800 employees—including providers and support staff as part of VA’s planned reduction in force,” the lawmakers write. “This will lead to delays in care that will hurt Arizona veterans and erode their trust in their care.”
The letter details previous occupational shortages outlined by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that have already affected quality care by increasing wait times.
The lawmakers also emphasize that cutting VA staff to pre-2019 levels will affect the more than 9,000 Arizona veterans who enrolled in VA health care under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT Act—a bipartisan bill passed in 2022 that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
Read the full letter HERE.
Senator Gallego, a Marine combat veteran, has consistently pushed back against the Trump Administration’s cuts to the VA that threaten essential services for veterans, including by placing a blanket hold on nominees to the department until it reverses course. In a recent Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing, he pressed VA officials on the detrimental impacts these cuts would have on veterans’ mental health care.
5/7/25