A leaked internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revealed that the Trump administration, in coordination with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is planning to cut up to 83,000 VA jobs—a move that has sparked widespread outrage from lawmakers, veterans’ advocates, and labor unions.
The planned layoffs, which would reduce VA staffing levels to 2019 numbers, have been described as an attempt to justify the privatization of veterans’ healthcare while cutting costs to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Critics warn that gutting the VA workforce would have catastrophic consequences for millions of veterans, particularly those relying on healthcare services and benefits expanded under the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
Representative Mark Takano of California condemned the plan, saying that this deliberate dismantling of the VA’s workforce isn’t just dangerous—it’s an outright betrayal of veterans. He warned that slashing 80,000 employees would cripple the very system that millions of veterans rely on, denying them access to lifesaving healthcare, claims processing, and education benefits they’ve earned.
The leaked memo, written by VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek, outlines an aggressive plan to slash the VA workforce by over 17 percent, cutting from 482,000 employees down to 399,000—a level not seen since before the PACT Act, which expanded benefits and services for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
According to Government Executive, the memo states that these cuts will be sweeping and spare no part of the department and that they are being carried out in coordination with Musk’s DOGE to resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure.
More than a quarter of VA employees are veterans, meaning tens of thousands of veterans could lose their jobs under this plan.
The reaction from lawmakers and veterans’ groups has been swift and furious.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced the plan, stating that thousands of veterans across the country have been hurt by the extreme actions of Donald Trump, the Trump administration, Elon Musk, and MAGA Republicans. He called the move unacceptable, unconscionable, and un-American.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal argued that the layoffs amount to a calculated effort to roll back veteran healthcare and justify privatizing VA services. He stated that this memo makes their goal crystal clear: they want to roll back the PACT Act by cutting 80,000 jobs, including 20,000 veterans, while starving VA’s ability to meet increased demand in order to justify privatizing VA.
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 311,000 VA workers, said that these layoffs would destroy the VA’s ability to fulfill the PACT Act’s promises to veterans who either died or became ill as a result of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
Labor leaders have warned that these cuts will create delays in medical care, longer processing times for claims, and a deterioration of VA services overall.
The backlash has also come directly from veterans who rely on VA services for physical and mental healthcare.
Gregg Bafundo, a former Marine and Gulf War veteran, told the Associated Press that the cuts would be deadly for veterans like him. He warned that they’re going to put guys like him and his fellow Marines in the ground.
Daniel Ragsdale Combs, a Navy veteran with a traumatic brain injury, said he is already seeing signs that his mental health support groups and therapy sessions could be eliminated due to staffing shortages.
Lucy Wong, a veteran suffering from scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder, depends on VA-provided Uber rides to get to her medical appointments. She worries that transportation services could be cut off entirely.
While some veterans have defended the plan as a necessary cost-saving measure, many argue that it is wrong to balance the budget on the backs of those who served.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been leading a government-wide purge of federal employees, targeting agencies such as Social Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and now the VA.
Veteran advocates warn that Musk’s ultimate goal is to push for VA privatization, shifting care from a government-run system to for-profit hospitals and healthcare corporations.
Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, called the plan morally bankrupt and said it will prevent those who served the country from getting the care they need.
The attack on the VA comes at a time when Trump and Republicans have prioritized tax cuts for the wealthy over funding essential services for working-class Americans, including veterans.
Despite running on a pro-veteran platform, Trump’s policies have included blocking cost-of-living adjustments for disabled veterans, proposing cuts to VA medical research, and repeated attempts to reduce funding for veteran mental health programs.
While many veterans supported Trump in the 2024 election—nearly 60 percent of veteran voters cast their ballots for him—these cuts have sparked a divide in the veteran community.
Retired Marine Stephen Watson, a Trump supporter, believes cuts are necessary for budget control, but even he acknowledges the personal sacrifices veterans will be forced to make. He stated that many veterans who voted for Trump understood this was going to be his policy and are now screaming bloody murder because the axe is going to fall upon the VA.
However, others, like Bafundo, argue that the burden should not be placed on veterans while billionaires like Musk and Trump receive massive tax cuts. Bafundo stated that if people are going to sacrifice, the wealthy need to sacrifice too, and that, frankly, they don’t.
Veterans’ groups, labor unions, and Democratic lawmakers are mobilizing against the cuts.
• House and Senate Democrats are calling for emergency hearings to investigate the VA job cuts.
• Veterans’ organizations like VFW, DAV, and AFGE are organizing town halls and protests.
• Lawmakers are pushing for legislation to protect VA funding and block mass layoffs.
Despite the backlash, Trump has refused to reconsider the cuts, insisting they are necessary to reduce government spending.
The fate of 83,000 VA workers—and the healthcare of millions of veterans—now rests on whether Congress takes action before it’s too late.
The Trump-Musk VA job cuts represent one of the most aggressive attacks on veterans’ services in modern history.
If implemented, these cuts could severely reduce access to healthcare, disability benefits, and education programs for millions of veterans.
Call your Congressmember today and ask them what they’re doing to stop Elon Musk’s coup.
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