TUCSON, Ariz. — A significant number of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are seeking deferred resignations amid plans to reduce the agency’s workforce. According to internal data shared by agency staff, over 11,000 employees have filed applications as part of a workforce reduction initiative that aims to cut the VA’s personnel by 15%. The move is spearheaded by the Trump administration’s “Doge” initiative to streamline operations.
The most impacted roles include approximately 1,300 nurses, 800 medical support assistants, and about 300 social workers. Concern has arisen regarding how these cuts could impact the quality of care provided to veterans. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins has insisted that there will be no adverse effects on healthcare services for veterans. During a recent Senate hearing, he was adamant in defending the agency’s approach against accusations of fearmongering from Democratic lawmakers.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut challenged Collins, questioning how the agency would maintain a healthcare standard comparable to 2019 while implementing such drastic cuts. Collins responded defiantly, asserting that no layoffs of doctors or nurses were planned and emphasizing the commitment to preserving frontline healthcare.
Despite Collins’ assurances, skepticism remains, particularly as staffing shortages at the VA have already raised alarms. At the same hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders pointedly inquired whether the VA acknowledged an existing shortage of medical professionals. Collins conceded that the entire healthcare sector faces recruitment challenges but maintained that the VA is undertaking outreach efforts to attract more staff.
The department, which employs about 470,000 individuals, includes more than 371,000 healthcare professionals working across nearly 1,400 facilities nationwide. VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz later clarified that while all employees are allowed to apply for deferred resignation, those in direct or indirect care roles would be carefully evaluated. He indicated that approvals would be granted only in rare circumstances, suggesting that minimal applications from these critical positions would be sanctioned.
Widespread concern among VA staff and veterans is evident. A recent poll revealed that 81% of respondents, including many veterans, fear that federal cuts may threaten their benefits and healthcare. During a protest in Tucson on May 2, veteran activist Alex Maldonado highlighted the essential role of current staff in managing veterans’ needs: “We depend on them to communicate about appointments and ensure our voices are heard.”
Dan Clare, a representative from Disabled American Veterans, echoed these worries. He stressed the importance of transparency about which positions may be eliminated and how such changes could impact services. Meanwhile, an anonymous VA employee expressed distress over the uncertainty surrounding their jobs, noting that the anxiety permeating the workplace has implications for patient care.
To accommodate the wave of applications, VA officials have extended the deadline for deferred resignation submissions to May 16. Employees granted deferred resignations would separate from the agency by September 30, paving the way for administrative leave arrangements in the interim.
As the VA navigates these staffing challenges, both employees and veterans are left grappling with the potential ramifications of workforce reductions on the future of care and services essential to those who have served the nation.