Trump's Betrayal of Those who Served Our Country

We live in a country that assures us that we will be kept safe by the courage and skills of the men and women in our military. In return, our government has promised to protect them when they return home through benefits. This includes health care tailored to their needs for both physical and mental health care wither or not these needs are service related. It also promises these who suffer service-related disabilities will also be compensated for their losses and provided with additional financial and health related resources to support their lives. In addition, there is a long list of Veteran Benefits including major wins related to PTSD, Agent Orange, Burn Pits, housing, suicide hot lines and prevention and GI Bill and job training. And there are many more.

Much of that protection comes from the Veterans Administration that is now being attacked in ways that will sell out our veterans and their families.  It harms all of us who depend on the military’s ability to recruit young people who believe that they will get the support they need when they return home.  It also is a betrayal of who we are as Americans and how we value the people who sacrifice for us.

DOGE and VA Secretary Doug Collins have a catastrophic plan to cut VA services and 80,000 jobs. It is happening after the VA experienced in 2024 its highest ever service demand for services, while already reporting a shortage of 60,000 workers. 86% of VA hospitals and clinics reported shortages of doctors in 2024.  Other severe shortages were in nursing and psychology.  Secretary Collins cut 2,400 VA jobs in February.  This is affecting veterans’ ability to access care when they need it. 

In a year - over a million calls, texts, and chats are made to the Veterans Crisis line, but now the crisis line is losing staff to buyouts and cuts. This is happening while there are 17.6 veteran suicides a day.  Vets with medical needs are having longer wait times and in some hospitals can’t get in at all. Also, greater numbers of veterans are being sent to non-VA caregivers who may not have much experience with the specific needs of veterans. 

In spite of this, 52% of Republicans voted against a bill offered in the Senate to protect veterans and the VA. They want to give a tax break to the wealthy and to farm out services to rich corporations that will end up costing the government more.

Veterans deserve better. We need to ensure that veterans get the healthcare that they deserve and need to thrive.  Call your senators and representatives and protest this demolition of the VA from the inside just to create profits for the rich. 

References

1.    Five reasons federal cuts are hitting veterans especially hard   

March 16, 2025  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-reasons-federal-cuts-are-hitting-veterans-especially-hard      

2.    Trump administration plans to cut 80,000employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo   May 5, 2025 by Stephen Groves  https://apnews.com/article/veterans-affairs-cuts-doge-musk-trump-f587a6bc3db6a460e9c357592e165712     

3.    New Report:  Trump’s Mass Firings at VA Hurt WA Veterans

April 2, 2025   Senator Patty Murray  https://www.murray.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VA-Oversight-Report-Murray-pdf        

4.    ICYMI:  Deluzio Op-Ed Warns of Ongoing Threat To Privatize VA, Sell off Veterans’ Healthcare Services to Unaccountable Worse Quality Providers    

January 15, 2025 Press release about opinion piece in The Hill on December 29, 2024 by Congressman Chris Deluzio 

5.    Severe Shortages of Doctors and Nurses Have persisted for a Decade at VA Facilities, Report Finds 

August 8. 2024   By Linda F Hersey    Stars and Stripes   Stripes.com  

6.    Blumenthal Unveils Sweeping Veterans Bill Aimed at Reversing Damage from Trump Administration’s Egregious Cuts at VA, Assault on Veterans    

March 11. 2025  https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2025/3/blumenthal-unveils-s

7.      https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/benefits-summary/SummaryofVABenefits.pdf