The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to eliminate up to 35,000 health care positions, many described by the VA as unfilled or “Covid-era” roles, according to a Washington Post report. The move follows a reorganization that already reduced VA staffing by nearly 30,000 this year. Veterans’ groups and the AFGE warn that cuts to frontline staff could worsen chronic understaffing and jeopardize care, while the VA argues some roles are no longer necessary.
VA Plans To Cut Up To 35,000 Health Care Jobs, Sparking Outcry From Veterans’ Groups
In early March, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it was prepared to eliminate tens of thousands of positions as part of a broad reorganization. The proposal has touched off alarm among veterans’ groups and unions who warn the changes could deepen chronic understaffing and harm care for veterans.
The Washington Post reported that the VA plans to abruptly eliminate as many as 35,000 health care positions this month — largely roles that are currently unfilled, including doctors, nurses and support staff — citing an internal memo, VA staffers and congressional aides. The report also says the cuts follow a major reorganization earlier in the year that resulted in the loss of nearly 30,000 employees.
VA Secretary Doug Collins defended the broader reorganization and argued that the federal government “does not exist to employ people.” He added bluntly, “We’ll be making major changes, so get used to it.”
When testifying before senators in the spring, Collins said that “adding more employees to the system doesn’t automatically equal better results.” He did not offer a detailed explanation of how cutting large numbers of staff while expecting remaining employees to absorb more work would improve care or outcomes.
The outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Aug. 26, 2025.(The Washington Post via Getty Images)
In May, the secretary suggested workforce reductions would focus on what he described as “nonessential roles,” mentioning examples such as interior designers and some diversity, equity and inclusion positions. But the Post’s account describes the current proposal as targeting the VA’s health care workforce rather than administrative or design roles. The Post report has not been independently verified by other outlets.
A VA spokesperson told the Post that many of the affected positions are “mostly Covid-era roles that are no longer necessary.” Critics — including veterans’ advocacy groups and unions — dispute that characterization and argue that cuts to frontline health staff would exacerbate access and quality problems.
VoteVets called the proposed reductions “outrageous,” saying, “It is abundantly clear that Republicans and the Trump administration want to strangle the VA until it all gets privatized.”
Thomas Dargon Jr., deputy general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents more than 320,000 VA employees, warned that the VA has been “chronically understaffed for years” and that additional cuts or reorganizations would likely force remaining staff to shoulder heavier workloads, potentially reducing veterans’ access to timely care.
Officials and lawmakers remain divided over whether the proposed reductions would yield efficiency gains or undermine the VA’s capacity to provide health care. Observers note the importance of independent verification of the Post’s figures and of clear plan details from the VA about which roles would be cut and how patient care will be protected during and after the reorganization.
This article will be updated as additional reporting or official statements become available.
