(GoRealNewsNow.com) – President Trump’s administration says it is tackling bloated bureaucracy at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and it plans to cut over 80,000 positions.
The efficiency initiative, driven by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to streamline operations by returning to 2019 staffing levels.
Under Biden’s administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs has grown to over 482,000 employees, largely due to the implementation of the 2022 PACT Act.
Trump’s plan would reduce staffing to under 400,000 employees, focusing cuts on non-essential personnel while preserving the 300,000 positions deemed “mission critical” for maintaining veteran services.
VA Secretary Doug Collins promised these cuts would not compromise veterans’ care and said:
“This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want. President Trump has a mandate for generational change in Washington and that’s exactly what we’re going to deliver at the VA.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly emphasized that Trump “refuses to accept the VA bureaucracy and bloat that has hindered veterans’ ability to receive timely and quality care.”
The streamlining effort comes despite the VA reporting its highest-ever service levels last year, with over 9 million enrollees and 127.5 million healthcare appointments.
The reorganization aligns with Trump’s broader promise to drain the Washington swamp and eliminate wasteful government spending that accumulated during the Biden years.
Critics of the plan include former VA Inspector General Michael Missal, who was dismissed along with other inspectors general and is now challenging his firing in court.
Despite reportedly saving the VA $45 billion during his tenure, Missal opposed the cuts.
Leftist politicians like Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have predictably attacked the Trump administration’s efficiency plan, falsely claiming it “prioritizes private sector profits over veterans’ care.”
Moreover, Secretary Collins acknowledged complaints about the changes but remained firm:
“There are many people complaining about the changes we’re making at the V.A. But what most of them are really saying is, ‘Let’s just keep doing the same thing that the V.A. has always done.'”
An internal memo indicates that VA staff should prepare for reorganization in August to better align the workforce with the revised mission.
With over 25% of VA employees being veterans themselves, the administration will likely prioritize keeping veteran staff members in critical roles.
“Things need to change,” Collins stated plainly. “We’ll be making major changes, so get used to it.”
Ultimately, the restructuring represents the Trump administration’s commitment to government efficiency without sacrificing quality of care.
By cutting administrative bloat while preserving essential services, the VA can better focus resources on its core mission: serving America’s veterans with the respect and care they deserve.
Copyright 2025, GoRealNewsNow.com
