Veterans Affairs to Cut 35,000 Health Care Positions

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to cut up to 35,000 health care positions, focusing on unfilled roles like doctors and nurses. This represents a 10% workforce reduction from last year. The move is expected to have no impact on the care provided to Veterans.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is set to slash its health care workforce by up to 35,000 positions, according to the Washington Post. This significant reduction will primarily target unfilled jobs, including those of doctors and nurses. Saturday's reports, citing an internal memo and conversations with Veterans Affairs staff and congressional aides, reveal the department's strategic decision to streamline resources.

While Reuters could not independently verify the report, the aim is to trim the VA health care workforce to approximately 372,000 employees, marking a 10% reduction from the previous year. A leaked memo shared with regional leaders last month outlines these plans, yet the Department of Veterans Affairs has not responded to requests for comment.

The Washington Post highlights a statement from VA spokesperson Pete Kasperowicz, confirming the planned eliminations will focus on open positions deemed unnecessary post-COVID era. Despite the cuts, Kasperowicz assures that VA operations and care delivery to Veterans will remain unaffected. This recent restructuring follows a prior adjustment in July, which saw a reduction of 30,000 jobs, achieving a lesser cut than initially planned for this fiscal year.