Washington, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that 1,000 employees were being dismissed resulting in a $98 million dollar annual reduction in costs. The statement released by the VA reported that “[t]hose dismissed today include non-bargaining unit probationary employees who have served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or who have served less than two years in an excepted service appointment. The personnel moves will save the department more than $98 million per year, and VA will redirect all of those resources back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.”
Following this news there were reports including a post on X from Senator Chuck Schumer that some the staff released in this reduction were people who manage the Veterans Crisis Line.
The VA has fired over a thousand staffers, including people who manage the Veterans Crisis Line.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 19, 2025
Apparently, DOGE thinks that’s government waste.
Senate Democrats are exposing how this is all a front to clear the way for a tax cut for Trump’s billionaire buddies.
The Veterans Crisis Line offers 24/7 confidential support. Per their website:
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7, confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
No Veteran should go through a crisis alone. The Veterans Crisis Line links Veterans to real people specially trained to help you through any challenge.
Care doesn’t have to end when the call, chat, or text is over. Our responders can connect you with resources, including your local suicide prevention coordinator (SPC). Available in each VA medical center across the country, SPCs ensure Veterans can access the counseling, services, and programs you need.
No matter when, where, or how you served. No matter your discharge status. No matter what you’re experiencing. The Veterans Crisis Line is for all Veterans.
Right Now Oregon contacted the VA and was provided the following statement from a spokesperson reporting that no crisis-line responders had been laid off.
“No crisis-line responders have been laid off, and VA continues to take multiple steps to ensure all mission-critical positions are exempt from the federal hiring freeze and layoffs. The layoffs VA announced Feb. 13 will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. The personnel moves in question will save the department more than $98 million per year, and VA looks forward to announcing in the near future how it will redirect all of those resources back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.”
Right Now Oregon asked in the original inquiry if the layoffs had included staff that help the crisis line to operate and for the VA to comment on their plan to ensure continuity of services generally and with specific regard to crisis services. These questions were not directly answered by the spokesperson.
About the Author
Years of wasteful spending and abuse of the taxpayer needs to stop. We taxpayers are tired of the incredible waste of tax dollars by bottom feeding democrats. Kepp up the good work Trump.