35,000 Health Positions Targeted in Shocking Veterans Affairs Overhaul

The Washington Post and other major news outlets have reported that this sudden cut in the workforce will affect healthcare jobs. The move is in line with the Trump administration’s earlier goal of lowering the number of VA employees from pandemic-era highs to levels below 400,000, which is what it was in 2019. Officials say it cuts down on unnecessary government work without hurting services for veterans.

Plans for up to 80,000 cuts came out in March 2025, but by the end of the fiscal year, they were cut down to about 30,000 through attrition and early retirements. Recent announcements show that there will be more focus on healthcare workers, which will make the shortages that are already making it hard to care for patients even worse. The VA works with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to make these changes.

Democratic lawmakers say the cuts will make it harder for veterans to get care when they need it, and unions say they will cause service disruptions. Veterans and their supporters are against the changes because they say they could lead to staff shortages and higher demand from burn pit exposures and more people being eligible. Secretary Douglas Collins says that benefits are still safe.