A veterans group has publicly criticized President Donald Trump in a Memorial Day message, saying that his administration’s decisions are hurting those who served in the military. They’re especially upset about recent staff cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Like other government departments, the VA is facing large job reductions as part of Trump’s plan to shrink the size and cost of the federal government. Progressive group VoteVets posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling out both Trump and Elon Musk, who is now working as a top advisor and head of a new department called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They blame Musk for causing serious problems at the VA by cutting staff and budgets.
Kayla Williams, a veteran of the Iraq War and an advisor at VoteVets, said that cutting VA staff will lead to longer wait times and lower-quality care for veterans. She believes these actions could even lead to more veteran deaths. She called it a “slap in the face” to those who risked their lives for the country.
The VA is planning to cut more than 17% of its staff—that’s about 82,000 people losing their jobs. Many government contracts connected to the VA have also been canceled. Earlier this month, a report said that over 14,000 health care workers at the VA applied to leave their jobs after the federal government offered financial incentives to quit.
In response to concerns about long wait times, the VA recently changed its rules. Now, veterans no longer need a second VA doctor to approve their requests to get health care outside the VA system. This is meant to speed things up, but some worry it’s not enough to fix deeper problems.
While Trump honored veterans and fallen soldiers in his Memorial Day speech, saying their sacrifice reminds the country why peace through strength is important, his administration’s decisions are under fire. VA Secretary Doug Collins also gave a respectful statement, encouraging Americans to visit veterans’ cemeteries and remember those who gave their lives.
However, many feel these words don’t match the actions. Union leader Everett Kelley said the VA has already been understaffed for years, and the latest job cuts will make things even worse. He added that firing thousands of workers, many still on probation, will hurt veterans and ignore what Congress intended for their care.
At this point, it’s not clear if more cuts are coming. But the future of the VA, and the care it provides, is raising real concerns among veterans and those who support them.
