• Collins argues agency taking "unfilled and unnecessary positions off the books" without firing current staff
• Democratic lawmakers call move "dangerous" and "reckless" amid existing severe staffing shortages
• Over 200 files discovered at family home included AI-generated images and violent abuse material

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — VA Secretary Doug Collins defended plans to eliminate up to 35,000 healthcare positions before year's end, arguing the department is merely removing unfilled and unnecessary roles from the books rather than firing current employees. The targeted positions include doctors, nurses, and support staff at an agency already experiencing chronic staffing shortages after losing nearly 30,000 employees earlier this year.

Collins Insists No Firings Involved

Collins has publicly argued that no current VA employees are being fired, saying the agency is taking unfilled and unnecessary positions off the books while insisting veteran care will not be harmed. A VA spokesperson characterized the targeted roles as primarily COVID-era positions no longer necessary for current operations. The agency aims to reduce its healthcare workforce to as few as 372,000 employees, representing a 10 percent reduction from last year's staffing levels.

"Unfilled does not mean unnecessary— and there are no excuses for failing to fill these mission critical jobs in the first place."

The former Georgia congressman appointed by President Trump has championed a philosophy of a leaner VA, arguing that reducing bureaucracy and administrative costs redirects resources to veterans. Collins told senators earlier this year that adding more employees to the system does not automatically equal better results.

Bipartisan Criticism Mounts

Democratic lawmakers including Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Bobby Scott, along with union leaders, called the move dangerous, reckless, and likely to exacerbate access problems for veterans. Kaine warned veterans will face longer wait times for care, referencing previous Democratic attempts to block VA job cuts that Senate Republicans obstructed.

Senator Bernie Sanders called the planned eliminations unacceptable, describing them as especially outrageous given that VA facilities face severe staffing challenges in Vermont and across the nation. The ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee emphasized that veterans who risked their lives deserve the best quality healthcare available.

Disputed Impact on Veterans

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal condemned Collins' continued cuts as incomprehensible and inexcusable. The Connecticut Democrat noted that VA already lost more than 30,000 employees between January and September due to President Trump and Collins' hiring freeze, deferred resignations, early retirements, and staff departures resulting from draconian workforce policies.

Blumenthal argued that unfilled does not mean unnecessary, emphasizing there are no excuses for failing to fill mission-critical jobs in the first place. Removing these positions will stretch thin a staff already struggling to meet rising workloads, leading to longer wait times and reduced access to care for veterans.

Front-Line Staff Dispute Characterization

Front-line staff disputed characterizations that unfilled positions represent unnecessary roles. Mark Smith, an occupational therapist and union local president in San Francisco, argued that any healthcare occupation qualifies as mission-critical, noting that eliminated scheduler positions make primary care providers' and mental health therapists' jobs significantly more difficult.

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The position eliminations would reduce VA staffing to pre-PACT Act levels, reversing a hiring surge that occurred under the Biden administration to implement the 2022 legislation. The PACT Act expanded eligibility for VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service, significantly increasing the population requiring VA assistance.

Prior Workforce Reductions Continue

The VA employed approximately 484,000 people on January 1, 2025, but reduced that number to 467,000 by June 1 through various workforce reduction mechanisms. The agency initially planned to eliminate roughly 80,000 positions representing 15 percent of its workforce before walking back those plans in July amid bipartisan criticism.

Collins stated in March that the federal government does not exist to employ people, though critics argued the wildly unpersuasive defense ignored that federal workers serve Americans requiring assistance. The secretary suggested mass layoffs would focus on nonessential roles including interior designers and diversity, equity, and inclusion positions.

An internal memo shared with regional leaders last month outlined the agency's plans, according to VA staffers and congressional aides. The cuts come after the VA shed personnel through hiring freezes, early retirements, and resignations throughout the year.

Will eliminating 35,000 healthcare positions worsen already lengthy wait times for veterans seeking medical care and benefits at understaffed VA facilities nationwide?

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