Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: We witnessed new, stricter stances from European countries since signing new agreement with IAEA
Saree: Our UAV force targeted the so-called Ramon Airport in the Umm al-Rashrash area in southern occupied Palestine
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our rocket force carried out an operation with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile targeting a sensitive target in the occupied Yafa area
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?

US Department of Veterans Affairs to slash over 70,000 jobs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Mar 2025 10:10
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Trump administration's latest decision has sparked strong opposition from Democrats.

Listen
  • x
  • This June 21, 2013, file photo, shows the seal affixed to the front of the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington. (AP)
    This June 21, 2013, file photo, shows the seal affixed to the front of the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington. (AP)

The administration of US President Donald Trump is set to eliminate over 70,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which manages veterans' health care and benefits, according to VA Secretary Doug Collins on Wednesday.

This downsizing is part of Trump's sweeping cost-cutting agenda, spearheaded by billionaire advisor Elon Musk. The decision has already sparked strong opposition from Democrats.

"For many years, veterans have been asking for a more efficient, accountable, and transparent VA. This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want," Collins said in a video posted on X.

Collins outlined the administration’s objective to bring VA staffing levels back to "2019 end-strength numbers—roughly 398,000 employees—from our current level of approximately 470,000 employees." His figures were lower than a VA statement last month, which placed the workforce at over 479,000.

Despite the planned job reductions, Collins assured, "We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries."

A VA memo obtained by AFP indicated that the department would collaborate with Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to "identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workforce efficiency," initially aiming to return to 2019 staffing levels.

'Create chaos'

Related News

Maduro slams US after second strike on Venezuelan vessel

PR giant SKDK cuts ties with 'Israel'

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, strongly condemned the move, stating, "These soon-to-be fired workers are patriotic Americans who chose to work at the VA because they genuinely care for the welfare of veterans and their families."

He further warned, "The VA has been severely understaffed for many years, resulting in longer wait times for veterans in need. The DOGE plunder of career VA employees, adding to the illegal mass firings of thousands of probationary employees, can only make matters worse."

Democratic lawmakers also criticized the plan, with Representative Mark Takano of California calling it "a deliberate dismantling of VA’s workforce" and "an outright betrayal of veterans."

"These cuts won’t just impact those seeking health care. They will create chaos across every aspect of VA," he cautioned.

Senator Patty Murray of Washington also expressed outrage, saying, "It is infuriating that two billionaires think they can fire tens of thousands of people responsible for administering the services and care that over nine million veterans across the country count on," referring to Trump and Musk.

Driving the news

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has aggressively pursued his goal of reducing public spending and cutting down the federal bureaucracy—one of his key campaign promises.

To achieve this, he appointed Musk, a major campaign donor and close advisor, to lead DOGE, which has already eliminated thousands of government jobs and disrupted agencies, leading to multiple lawsuits.

Musk's efforts initially targeted federal officials involved in diversity programs, and the administration has also pushed to shut down various humanitarian and aid initiatives worldwide.

Additionally, an AFP source familiar with internal discussions revealed that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is considering cutting up to half of its roughly 90,000 employees.

  • United States
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Democratic Party
  • US
  • Democrats
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS