As a veteran with disabilities, I’ve relied on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for my healthcare needs since 1999. The VA provided essential care when I experienced an ovarian cyst rupture. They were also there to help me manage debilitating migraines caused by my military service. Following a stroke in 2019, the VA provided crucial care management, rehabilitation access, and support to aid in my recovery.
However, the Trump administration, with the support of the new VA Secretary Doug Collins, intends to reduce VA staffing to 2019 levels. This action would undermine the vital support system that veterans like myself and countless others depend on. This decision is not only irresponsible, but it also represents a betrayal of every veteran who has served our nation.
The VA’s mission, as established in 2023, is “to uphold President Lincoln’s commitment to care for those who have served in our nation’s military, as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors.” Cutting these jobs directly contradicts this mission. It disrespects those who have defended our country by undermining a service many depend upon.
The statistics speak for themselves. In 2021, a significant number of veterans relied on at least one VA benefit or service, and utilized VA healthcare. Moreover, since the PACT Act was enacted in August 2022, almost a large number of veterans have enrolled in VA benefits, including over 333,000 veterans from the PACT Act group—those who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Post-9/11 conflicts. In just over a short time since the PACT Act became law, the VA has delivered essential healthcare and benefits to millions of veterans and their families who have been impacted by toxic exposure.
The demand for VA healthcare is not decreasing; rather, it is increasing rapidly. Therefore, reducing VA staffing to 2019 levels will have negative consequences. Since 2019, the number of veterans seeking care has increased, with more veterans entering the system and requiring specialized care for combat-related injuries, PTSD, and illnesses resulting from toxic exposure. Returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels disregards these realities and will likely result in longer wait times and less access to specialized care and life-saving treatments. Veterans will suffer, and some may die waiting for the care they were promised. This is not just a matter of policy; it is blatant neglect.
But the betrayal extends further. Thousands of veterans are employed by the VA, dedicated to serving their fellow service members. These job cuts will not only affect veterans who need care but also those who have committed themselves to caring for others. The VA was established to support those who have made sacrifices for our country—why is this administration abandoning us?
My concern extends beyond my own situation; I am deeply worried about our elderly veterans, those with severe combat injuries, survivors of military sexual trauma (MST), and those struggling with PTSD. They will bear the worst consequences of this heartless decision. Given the already alarming suicide rates among veterans—according to a 2024 VA report, a significant number—cutting off vital support will only exacerbate this crisis, leaving our most vulnerable veterans without the care they desperately need and deserve.
When we fail our veterans, we abandon the very principles our nation claims to uphold: duty, honor, and commitment. This is not merely about policy; it is about the individuals who have risked everything in service to our country, only to be disregarded when they require assistance the most. If we allow this to happen, we are not only failing veterans but also failing as a nation. The consequences of inaction will be measured in lives lost, families destroyed, and a breakdown of trust between those who serve and the nation they pledged to protect. We cannot claim to be a nation that supports its troops if we abandon them when they need us most.
If these cuts are implemented, how many veterans will suffer? How many will be lost? Consider that a large percentage of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD, and this figure is believed to be an underestimate because it only includes veterans who seek help through the VA. Additionally, there are hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans and veterans from other conflicts who suffer from PTSD, TBI, and MST.
We are not alone in this fight. Organizations like Common Defense, Indivisible, and VoteVets are at the forefront, mobilizing veterans and their allies to oppose these dangerous cuts. These groups recognize that defending veterans’ rights is not a political issue; it is about upholding a sacred promise to those who have served. Their efforts demonstrate that we can and must take action to prevent this betrayal.
We fought for this country, and now we must fight again—not with weapons, but with our voices. We must demand that the VA and the Trump administration fulfill their obligations to us. We must contact our representatives by phone, email, and attendance to town hall meetings to make them aware that we will hold them accountable. We must collaborate with advocacy groups that are working to protect VA resources and veterans’ rights. We cannot and will not be ignored, forgotten, marginalized, or betrayed. Because reducing VA jobs is not just a policy mistake; it is a violation of the oath we took to serve and protect this nation.