In another round of workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 1,400 employees were laid off on Monday, bringing the total number of job cuts to 2,400 in less than a month. These layoffs are part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to significantly reduce the federal workforce.
According to a VA statement, the affected employees were “bargaining-unit probationary employees” in “non-mission critical roles,” including positions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). While the VA classified responders from the Veterans Crisis Line as “mission critical,” an employee familiar with the situation reported that at least 15 crisis line workers were terminated. A congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that more crisis line employees were let go during this round of layoffs than in the previous wave, which saw around a dozen dismissed. Another insider revealed that among those fired was a social services assistant responsible for emergency dispatch services.
Last week, the VA denied reports of crisis line layoffs, despite multiple news sources, including USA TODAY, confirming the dismissals. However, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, stated that some of the terminated employees would be rehired after she and other Democratic lawmakers intervened.
These sudden and widespread cuts, driven by Trump and his senior advisor, billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk, have sparked outrage among critics. Concerns have been raised over the abrupt dismissal of employees in critical areas such as nuclear security, forest fire prevention, and bird flu response, with many arguing that these terminations have occurred without proper warning.
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