The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing for a major workforce overhaul, with plans to cut 80,000 jobs as part of an effort to return to 2019 staffing levels, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.
Christopher Syrek, the VA’s chief of staff, outlined the plan in a memo to top-level officials, explaining that the agency needs to “resize and tailor the workforce” to align with a new mission and structure. The reorganization is set to begin in August and will work in coordination with the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration.
During the Biden administration, the VA workforce expanded significantly to accommodate increased veteran healthcare needs, including support for those impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act. The VA’s workforce currently exceeds 480,000 employees, a significant increase from just under 400,000 in 2019. The planned job cuts aim to bring staffing levels back in line with pre-2020 numbers.
The memo describes the job reductions as part of a “pragmatic and disciplined approach” to restructuring the agency while maintaining its core mission. The cuts will affect both direct employees and contract workers, with some reductions already in progress.
Veterans and advocacy groups are raising concerns that reducing the VA workforce by tens of thousands could severely impact healthcare and benefits services for retired military members. The VA employs a large number of veterans, with more than 25% of its workforce having served in the military themselves.
So far, the restructuring has already resulted in the loss of a few thousand employees and hundreds of contracts, sparking protests from veterans who fear longer wait times, reduced medical services, and an overall decline in care.
The full reorganization is expected to take effect in August, though the VA has not yet provided a detailed timeline on when specific job cuts will occur.
