With just over two weeks left to go in the year, the US Department of Veterans Affairs is exploring further job cuts this month. The US VA staffing cuts are expected to target the healthcare division, with doctors, nurses, and support workers predicted to bear the brunt of the workforce reduction plans. An internal memo, seen by The Washington Post, outlined the key aspects of the VA healthcare layoffs for 2025, indicating additional changes to the department to round out the year.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs is exploring job cuts once more, with roles in health care expected to bear the brunt of the cuts. (Image: Pexels)
Veterans Affairs Job Cuts Announced: 35,000 Health Care Positions Placed on the Chopping Block
The US Department of Veterans Affairs is hoping to eliminate around 35,000 health care positions, which could bring down the headcount of the health care workforce to 372,000 employees, marking a 10% reduction from last year. A spokesperson was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, “The health care system is eliminating about 26,400 of its open jobs,” which he described as “mostly covid-era roles that are no longer necessary.”
Many organizations, including other federal agencies, have made a concerted effort to reduce their numbers this year, citing excessive hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for their inflated ranks. Other reasons have also been provided this year, ranging from redundant roles that were no longer needed to downsizing to accommodate AI investments.
The Department of Governmental Efficiency led a majority of the governmental cuts at the start of the year. Despite initial enthusiasm from head Elon Musk, the billionaire now claims the department was only “a little bit successful,” adding that he should have focused on Tesla instead and would not lead the project again.
What Do We Know About the Veterans Affairs Workforce Cuts?
Reporting from The Washington Post shows that agency leaders at the VA department have asked managers across the Veterans Health Administration to identify openings that can be cancelled to allow for this reorganization effort. Reassuringly, the cuts within open positions allay fears of existing employees being affected by the change, but the threat has not abated entirely.
The spokesperson also added that the VA job cuts would have no effect on its operation or how care was delivered to Veterans, as the cuts would simply eliminate “open and unfilled positions that are no longer needed.” Employees, however, have warned that the reduction of positions could affect the department’s ability to perform its role, adding pressure to a system that has already been stretched thin. This could result in longer wait times for those waiting for assistance, prolonging the department’s response time.
The department has reportedly struggled to fill vacancies due to the national shortage of healthcare workers and the pressures on the federal workforce. Applications to the department are also believed to be down 57% from last year, making these cuts particularly noteworthy during strained times. It is also evident that the recently announced US VA staffing cuts are not the first time the department has explored downsizing this year.
This Isn’t the First Time We’ve Heard of Veterans Affairs Layoffs in 2025
Earlier this year, in March, another internal memo revealed plans to layoff 80,000 employees. The plan was to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000 employees, which would involve eliminating thousands of workers who had been offered the opportunity to join the agency ranks. The cuts were expected in August, aimed at a mission to “resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure.”
After the decisions faced resistance, the department backed down from the plans and resorted to buyout packages and retirement offers to reduce its ranks. With the government shutdown and other disruptions to the federal operations, it’s unclear how much progress was effectively made towards these reduction goals. However, employees who made it through the initial round of cuts and buyouts are now at risk of losing their jobs once more.
Certain restrictions have been placed on any proposed job cuts to the VA, including a stop on reductions in staffing for suicide prevention programs. The House also recently overturned a previous executive order that removed union representation and rights for federal workers, which has been a matter of relief for many federal agencies, including the VA.
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