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As a disabled veteran, my journey with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began in 1999. Throughout the years, the VA has been my steadfast ally, guiding me through various health challenges, including the rupture of an ovarian cyst and the severe migraines that impacted my everyday life. The most critical moment came in 2019 during my stroke, when the VA not only managed my medical care but also facilitated my rehabilitation, ultimately helping me reclaim my independence.
However, a troubling development is on the horizon. The Trump administration, with the backing of new VA Secretary Doug Collins, is proposing to lay off 83,000 VA employees, reverting to staffing levels not seen since 2019. This drastic move jeopardizes the essential care that veterans like me, along with millions of others, have come to depend on. It isn’t just a reckless decision; it’s a heartbreaking betrayal of every veteran who has served our nation.
The VA’s Commitment
The VA’s mission, reaffirmed in 2023, is to uphold President Lincoln’s promise: to care for those who have served in our military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. Job cuts directly undermine this commitment and violate the trust owed to those who have defended our country—support that countless individuals rely on.
The numbers highlight the gravity of the situation. In 2021, 52% of veterans accessed at least one VA benefit or service, and 6.2 million veterans relied on VA healthcare. Following the PACT Act’s introduction in August 2022, nearly 740,000 new veterans enrolled in VA benefits, including over 333,000 from the PACT Act population—veterans from Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Post-9/11 conflicts. In just over two years since the PACT Act was enacted, the VA has provided vital healthcare and benefits to millions of veterans and survivors affected by toxic exposure.
Demand for VA healthcare continues to surge, which makes the plan to revert staffing to 2019 levels particularly alarming. Since then, the number of veterans seeking care has grown, with more aging into the system and requiring specialized treatment for combat-related injuries, PTSD, and illnesses linked to toxic exposure. Reducing staffing to pre-pandemic levels ignores these pressing realities, leading to longer wait times and a decline in specialized care, with life-saving treatments potentially becoming scarce. Veterans will undoubtedly suffer, and some may even lose their lives while waiting for the care they were promised. This is not merely a policy misstep; it is a profound dereliction of duty.
The Wider Impact
The ramifications extend even further. Thousands of veterans work within the VA, passionately dedicated to assisting their fellow service members. These job cuts will adversely affect not only veterans in need of care but also those who are committed to providing that care. The VA was created to support those who have made sacrifices for our nation—why is this administration turning its back on us?
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My concern extends beyond my own situation—I am genuinely alarmed for senior veterans, those suffering from severe combat injuries, survivors of military sexual trauma (MST), and individuals coping with PTSD. They will be disproportionately affected by this devastating decision. With suicide rates among veterans alarmingly high—an estimated 17 veterans take their own lives every day according to a 2024 VA report—cutting vital support services will only deepen this crisis, leaving our most vulnerable without the care they desperately need and deserve.
Upholding Our Values
When we turn our backs on our veterans, we abandon the core principles our nation claims to uphold—duty, honor, and commitment. This issue goes beyond policy; it’s about the real lives of those who have risked everything for this country, only to be neglected when they need help the most. Allowing such cuts to happen means failing veterans and failing as a nation. The cost of doing nothing is measured in lost lives, shattered families, and a breakdown of trust between those who serve and the country they pledged to protect. We cannot consider ourselves a nation that supports its troops if we abandon them in their time of need.
If these cuts go ahead, how many veterans will suffer? How many will be lost? It’s crucial to recognize that over one-third of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD, and this statistic likely underrepresents the issue as it only includes those who seek help through the VA. Additionally, there are countless Vietnam veterans and veterans from other conflicts who also struggle with PTSD, TBI, and MST.
We are not alone in this struggle. Organizations such as Common Defense, Indivisible, and VoteVets are leading the charge, mobilizing veterans and allies to oppose these damaging cuts. These groups understand that advocating for veterans’ rights transcends politics—it’s about honoring a sacred promise to those who have served. Their initiatives illustrate our collective capacity to take action and prevent this betrayal.
We have fought for this country, and now we must fight again—not with arms, but with our voices. We need to demand that the VA and the Trump administration fulfill their obligations to us. We must call, write, and participate in town hall meetings organized by our representatives, making it clear that we will hold them accountable. We must collaborate with advocacy groups dedicated to protecting VA resources and veterans’ rights. We cannot and will not be ignored, forgotten, or betrayed. Slashing VA jobs is not merely a policy failure; it is a betrayal of the oath we took to serve and protect this nation.
