The US administration under President Donald Trump is set to reduce the workforce strength of the Veterans Affairs (VA) department drastically. About 80,000 employees may end up being laid off as the agency is trying to reduce headcount and maintain the workforce strength to within four lakhs. The aim is to bring the headcount close to what it was in 2019.
The department, which handles the healthcare and services for veterans was expanded by the previous government and used to provide healthcare services to veterans affected by burn pits, as covered under the 2022 PACT Act.
An internal memo has reportedly been sent to the senior officials of the agency to gear up for a major reorganisation over a period of five months involving resizing and structural revision.
The officials have been asked to adopt a practical approach to the downsizing and decide in a disciplined manner while being aggressive with the process.
As per the White House, this is the President’s attempt at ensuring that veterans receive quality care on time by eliminating bureaucracy. These layoffs are expected to result in more transparency and efficiency, which will benefit the veterans of the country.
Last year, the VA department witnessed all-time high service levels, with enrolments crossing nine million veterans. Over 127.5 million health care appointments were delivered as per media reports based on data from the agency. It is also pertinent to mention here that over 25 per cent of the VA workforce consists of veterans.
