Stories

"Veterans deserve answers."

"I am very concerned about the impact on veteran healthcare and benefits with changes/firings made by DOGE since January and future firings. The Secretary of the VA has announced that up to 80,000 workers may be laid off. He also states this will NOT negatively impact healthcare and services for veterans. However, he does not explain how this will be possible. How can there be fewer workers and services not be impacted, unless we are to believe all 80,000 of these workers did nothing?...   These healthcare services are too important to mess around with and hope for the best or "break it and fix later." Veterans deserve answers." 

"Its a game of roulette and we are the losers..."

"We need to trust our government and as a veteran I have to believe the choice is being made in the VA are to help me and my fellow veterans.

We are currently in the situation where we have been told the RIF will affect our team. It’s going to disappear however, they refuse to tell us when it’s coming or if we will be entitled to the RIF benefits. So every day we login not knowing if our credentials are active. Its a game of roulette and we are the losers whether it’s today or a week from now.

I would of never believed this callous and careless attitude would come from the government and be aimed at the government. Please ask the leaders in the department of Veterans Affairs what they are doing? We (America) need answers and as a proud veteran and employee I want to know more."

"...all staff stressed out all the time..."

"We all have shared our concerns with VA supervisors, but many of us fear retaliation by this Presidential administration. We are constantly told there is nothing they can do. While less staffing means more work for others to pick up when we were already low on critical staff. Longer wait times for patient appointments, all staff stressed out all the time not knowing if they will have a job tomorrow even if they are on the exempt list for the VA when the RIF notices come out, staff being harrasses by other staff and by patients because of their race, ethicity, the way they look/dress, or because they can speak multiple languages so those people can report them to get deported, potential patient safefty issues caused by staff being stressed out all the time, not having enough people to do the work needed (have 2 people doing the work of 5 plus a supervisor right now in my shop and others are doing the same), taking longer to fix things and more money to fix things because of tarrifs on parts and budget constraints."

"... I have personally relied on the VA for my healthcare."

"... As a disabled veteran who served 21 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, including five deployments—one of which was to Afghanistan—I have personally relied on the VA for my healthcare....I am already seeing the consequences of these staffing cuts. The VA healthcare system is a lifeline for millions of veterans, many of whom, like myself- depend on it for essential medical treatment. Reducing the workforce in such large numbers will inevitably lead to longer wait times, reduced access to specialized care, and an overall decline in the quality of services provided to those who have sacrificed so much for this nation. Veterans should not have to struggle to receive the care they have earned. I urge you to take immediate action to stop these layoffs and ensure that the VA remains fully staffed to meet the needs of those who served. Our country made a promise to its veterans, and we must uphold that promise by protecting and improving the healthcare system we rely on."

"Breach of contract." 

"...In 1993, I entered a contractual agreement with the American people: I will, at whatever cost, protect our constitutional rights against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and in return, the American citizens will provide any needed care, educational benefits, and home loan assistance I may require. Both parties understood the VA would uphold the American people’s contractual responsibility for my lifetime, no matter the cost nor administration. The unsubstantiated personnel cuts in the VA put the VA, thereby the American people, in danger of breach of contract..."

"...I have limited options."  

"I am concerned that a RIF will harm sick Veterans who are waiting for decisions. I am also concerned about my ability to support my family and where I will find employment if terminated from VA. As a military spouse I have limited options." 

"A few people openly cry in the office most days..."

"I am terrified my job will be cut, and I will be "RIF"ed. Because 90% of VA Research is term employees (including myself and most Principal Investigators at our center and ALL of our research staff), we know our heads are first on the chopping block for a RIF. We are pre-grieving our sense that VA Research is about to be decimated. ... We are anticipating and planning for a blood-bath, while hoping and praying for the best. A few people openly cry in the office most days, and any of us who happen to be having a better day support those having a bad day. In spite of all the grief and fear, we are also in action mode and against all odds, we are mission-focused. Fighting through each day for Veterans and fighting for our science and fighting for better treatments for mental illness. ...

Trying to save ourselves from modern-day book-burning like this is incredibly dark and scary. A rapid RIF like this has implications not only for our data, but also implications for our ability to carry out the mission Congress has charged us with and is mandated by law: to improve Veterans' health and well-being via basic, translational, clinical, health services, and rehabilitative research; to apply scientific knowledge to develop effective individualized care solutions for Veterans. Fears of a rapid RIF have also caused us to pause enrollment for several of our studies until the RIF is over.

...No one else in the world has studied what I am studying now. Why wouldn't our nation want to continue to lead the world in developing the very best, most effective, most efficient treatments for the most complex patients? And to do it for Veterans. I've dedicated my career to serving Veterans, and I'm still ready to stand for them and stand by them. Will the Administration let me?"

"They seem to find more way to make us miserable or stressed." 

"I'm concerned my job will be eliminated and that the qulaity of work at VA is diminishing as they promote prodction numbers. Doesn’t matter if it’s right, just get it out so we can make our production numbers, doesnt matter if it’s correct. Giving Veterans the best service is not a priority.  We are losing our most experienced and knowledgeable employees … they just don’t want to deal with it anymore. Morale is horrible… they seem to find more ways to make us miserable or stressed.  It’s a new email or directive each day … latest one is what our email signature on emails must look like.  Never any answer to our questions, just so much uncertainty." 

"Im scared" 

"I'm concerned about the negative impact on office morale and culture, as well as the toll on mental health. There's diminished faith in both leadership and peers to perform their duties effectively. My own ability to do my job has been compromised by new approval processes, cancelled programs, and other obstacles. Staffing shortages are interrupting care for our Veterans, affecting access and wait times. I worry about my colleagues' livelihoods, the declining morale and culture this administration has created, and our job security. I'm concerned about retaliation if I speak up, and I question whether fairness and employee rights still exist. The entire future of the VA is at stake. While I haven't been terminated yet, I'm scared—but more worried about the long-term effects on our nation's heroes."

"There is grave concern that history is being erased..."

"I am currently serving in my 21st year in active duty in the USAF and have directly deployed in support of 6 named conflicts. I am a 3rd-generation Air Force with a combined 75 years of service to this country. My call to action is twofold: my wife has dedicated the last 11 months serving veterans at the local VA hospital, just to be illegally terminated. Why is a department that has historically marketed to the preferred hiring of military spouses lying about termination documentation when she has had nothing but outstanding reviews from her supervisor? All while being hired under Executive Order 13832, why is Tracey Therit and Secretary Doug Collins not being investigated for falsifying Government documentation? Secondly, I call to action an investigation into the scrubbing of Arlington National Cemetery’s websites. There is grave concern that history is being erased against Black, Hispanic, and Women veterans via the website. If a subgroup is being erased, shouldn’t all subgroups be eliminated to prevent bigotry?"