Democrats blast Trump administration’s proposed Veterans Affairs cuts

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Veterans are growing concerned about the Trump administration’s proposal to downsize the Department of Veterans Affairs .

During a heated hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins he defended his aim to reduce his department by 15%, stating, "History indicates that increasing the number of staff within the division does not necessarily lead to improved outcomes."

The following day, after the hearing, Arizona Democrats, spearheaded by Representative Greg Stanton, dispatched a missive to Collins stating that these reductions would "result in delayed medical services, adversely affecting Arizona’s veterans and diminishing their confidence in the healthcare system."

Regrettably, not long ago, there was a disgraceful era during which wait times became extremely lengthy at the Phoenix VA, leading to unquestionable deaths among veterans who were awaiting the necessary medical attention," Stanton states. "We must ensure that we never return to those bleak times.

Stanton argues that the magnitude of the proposed reductions would have a direct effect on veterans' healthcare services. He also suggests that the administration’s strategy is akin to employing a chainsaw rather than a scalpel.

Collins argues it’s about eliminating layers of bureaucracy and waste and not cutting primary health care or benefits. “Our goal, and here is the key word, our goal as we look at it as everything goes forward is a 15% decrease.”

“We all acknowledge that the VA is not perfect,” says Phoenix veteran Joanna Sweatt. She was part of a group of 75 vets who attended the hearing to oppose the cuts.

“It would cripple our system,” she says. “We know, especially as veterans, it’s not just about the doctors and the nurses, just like in the military, it’s not just about the front lines and the infantry. We need wrap-around support. We need administrative staff.”

Rep. Stanton says the VA is already short-staffed. In the letter, he writes, “because of these staffing shortages, the average wait time for new patients at most Phoenix-area VA facilities is above the standard of 20 days for primary care and mental health appointments.”

The correspondence sent to Secretary Collins requests a reply by April 30 addressing the subsequent queries:

1. What number of employees and contractors from the VA Phoenix Health Care System are you planning to let go as part of the VA directive to reduce staffing by 15%?
2. According to their job classifications, how many clinical personnel at the VA Phoenix Health Care System does your administration intend to lay off?
3. What is the planned number of terminations for non-clinical personnel at the VA Phoenix Health Care System, categorized by job series?
4. Could you share your schedule for letting go of these employees and contractors?
5. Please schedule a briefing within two weeks with the individuals listed below to discuss your comprehensive plan. This should cover how, despite the anticipated decrease in staff, the VA Phoenix Health Care System aims to uphold a high level of care, shorten appointment waiting periods, and address critical staffing deficiencies.

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