Veterans in the Valley are raising concerns about their health care following reports of job cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been directed to reduce its workforce by 80,000 employees, a decision from the Department of Government Efficiency and the Trump administration. David Dunn, a veteran and Post Commander at American Legion Post #26, emphasized the importance of having consistent VA staff, stating, "It’s a trust you gain with your VA doctor, therapist, or whoever it may be. To have that pulled away, it’s like, what do I do now?" Doc Brumme, a Vietnam War Combat Medic and VA patient, expressed concern, saying, "I’m concerned about all of the things that are happening," and "My medical, all of my prescriptions, the VA is number one in my book," as reported by ABC15.
A Reuters investigation reveals disruptions in the Department of Veterans Affair's mental health services due to workforce reductions. Joey Cortez, a 24-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, shared that after being terminated, he began experiencing panic attacks, saying, "Once the firings happened and I was terminated, I started having panic attacks to the point where I black out." The report also mentions canceled telehealth appointments and overcrowded VA facilities, which affect patient privacy and care. A provider in California stated, "We are scrambling to find space," and added, "Veterans are going without until we can find spaces for these providers."
The Department of Veterans Affairs, however, assures that the quality of veteran care will remain uncompromised. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins stated, "They can do hypotheticals all they want, the reality is veterans' benefits aren’t being cut," in a comment to ABC15. Similarly, Department of Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz said that the agency is actively working to improve care for veterans, stating, "We’re not talking about reducing medical staff or claims processors, we’re talking about reducing bureaucracy and inefficiencies that are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans."
