Arizona veterans face an uncertain future as lawmakers push back against proposed staffing reductions at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Senator Mark Kelly, alongside Representatives Ruben Gallego, Greg Stanton, and Yassamin Ansari, this week voiced their collective disapproval in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, a move that signals their commitment to fight for those who've served.
Deep cuts are on the horizon, with the VA looking to let go 15% of its workforce, a decision that would affect roughly 800 employees, while the lawmakers maintain, "This will lead to delays in care that will hurt Arizona veterans and erode their trust in their care," a concern amplified by already prevalent occupational shortages, and past reports by the OIG highlighting how these gaps in staffing have already compromised care and inflated waiting times well beyond acceptable standards, as reported by the Arizona Senator website.
The contention doesn't just stem from the present but ties back to the passage of the PACT Act in 2022, legislation that was supposed to shore up support and services for veterans exposed to an array of toxins during service; instead, the proposed staff rollover threatens to destabilize a system meant to be bolstering its ranks to address these concerns. Over 9,000 Arizona veterans enrolled under the PACT Act stand to be impacted if the VA staff is slashed to pre-2019 numbers, undermining a pledge of comprehensive care.
The quartet of lawmakers remains resolute; the message painted clear in their correspondence to Collins is one of staunch advocacy for veterans’ quality of care, a priority that they argue must be upheld above all else, their unified stance echoing the sentiment that, "Our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors deserve the highest standard of care," however, whether this appeal results in an about-face from the VA remains to be seen as veterans and their communities brace for what may unfold, as reported by the Arizona Senator website.
