The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will begin mass layoffs as early as June, aiming to cut over 80,000 employees, according to a leaked memo. The reductions, part of a broader federal downsizing effort by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk, have sparked bipartisan criticism.
Veterans groups and lawmakers, including Senator Patty Murray, warn the cuts could endanger veterans’ health benefits. Senator Lindsey Graham called the move “political malpractice” for bypassing Congress. The VA defended the layoffs as “thorough and thoughtful,” emphasizing operational efficiency.
The scale of these job cuts surpasses reductions at other agencies, raising concerns about their impact on services for military veterans—a group that traditionally enjoys bipartisan support.
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