As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk lay waste to scores of federal applications and the careers of hundreds of presidency employees, Republicans on Capitol Hill have largely saved their objections to themselves — with one large exception.
Army veterans have been disproportionately affected by the administration’s early cuts, and GOP lawmakers have unleashed a uncommon tide of public pushback. That reached a crescendo this week because the Trump administration raises the opportunity of large-scale dismissals of Division of Veterans Affairs workers.
Mass firings on the VA started weeks in the past, spurring a flurry of panicked calls from GOP lawmakers to the White Home. However a brand new memo outlines the potential for 80,000 extra firings throughout a roughly 480,000-person division, in keeping with an inside memo obtained by POLITICO.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Chair Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) stated in an announcement that whereas the large division is “in want of reform,” efforts to downsize “should be accomplished in a extra accountable method,” after the AP first reported the 80,000 determine Wednesday. Moran, who has been in shut contact with VA Secretary Doug Collins and White Home workers about personnel points for weeks, added in an interview Thursday that lawmakers “want data” and that the numbers should be “justifiable.”
Leaving a lunch assembly with Musk Wednesday the place the VA cuts got here up, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voiced his irritation to reporters and advised Trump’s veterans chief wanted to get a greater deal with on his division.
“It is political malpractice to not seek the advice of Congress if that is what you plan to do,” Graham stated. “Perhaps you have acquired an excellent purpose to do it. I like Doug Collins — he is an incredible man. However we do not should be studying memos within the paper about 20 p.c lower on the VA.”
Even earlier than the VA memo grew to become public, there was heartburn about how the cuts undertaken by Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity initiative would possibly affect the nation’s roughly 18 million veterans.
Federal job cuts typically have an effect on veterans extra profoundly, since they’re given choice in authorities hiring. The availability of well being care and different companies is straight threatened by cuts to the VA, and people impacts have been a frequent concern on the spate of city corridor protests GOP lawmakers have encountered in current weeks.
There are indicators the message has gotten via. Senate Majority Chief John Thune stated Thursday that senators raised the difficulty of VA cuts straight with Musk through the lunch assembly on the Capitol on Wednesday.
“I am hoping there shall be some clarification on that challenge quickly,” Thune advised a small group of reporters.
Sen. John Barrasso, Thune’s No. 2, stated that whereas they didn’t get affirmation of the VA cuts, Republicans careworn to Musk that Collins must be concerned, with “the priority being that we wish to be sure that veterans get the care that they want.”
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, who has not too long ago been in touch with Musk, stated she’s additionally coordinating with Moran as he tries to get solutions.
“Now we have an obligation to our veterans, and these mass firings undermine that obligation,” Collins advised reporters.
Democrats, who’ve been looking for a political foothold as they attempt to struggle again in opposition to DOGE, blasted the proposed VA cuts. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer referred to as it “a betrayal of our promise to our service members” that may spark “longer wait occasions, fewer appointments, much less well being care service for our veterans.”
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the highest Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, stated the transfer, if carried out, would put “non-public sector income over veterans’ care.”
Throughout the Capitol, the extra DOGE-friendly Home GOP is extra prepared to offer the administration leeway on efforts to slash the dimensions of the federal workforce. However even GOP leaders who’re usually fast to reward Musk’s slash-and-burn operation are delicate in regards to the VA and impacts on veterans.
“We’re going to speak to the secretary to see what their wants are,” stated Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise (R-La.). “You had, in a number of these departments, a big enhance throughout COVID, a few of which can have been wanted however a number of which wasn’t justified.
“So it’s essential to kind via what truly helps the veterans versus what truly takes cash away from veterans advantages,” Scalise added.
Rep. Michael McCaul stated in an interview Thursday he wanted to review the VA cuts in additional element. However he had a visceral response when knowledgeable of the extent of workforce cuts within the memo.
“Jeez,” McCaul stated, his eyes widening.
“I fear as a result of our veterans are hurting after Afghanistan; PTSD has gone approach up,” McCaul added. “Suicide charges gone approach up, and morale has gone approach down. So I fear within the sense that I do not need that to be a sign that we do not care about our veterans.”
Some Home Republicans, together with some with a excessive variety of veterans of their districts who get their care from the VA, supplied measured help.
“I belief the president,” stated Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), including “there are a number of complaints” in regards to the VA. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) added that he had religion in Collins to make cuts that “create efficiencies and really enhance care” at VA.
However Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) — a senior member of the Home Armed Companies Committee whose state consists of massive numbers of federal employees and veterans — warned the job cuts would have actual impacts on his constituents.
“I believe everyone seems at it and says, ‘Let’s get the federal authorities to the best dimension that is sustainable.’ Firms do this on a regular basis,” Wittman stated. “However I additionally wish to be conscious that these workers are actually good folks. They work onerous, and I wish to be certain that we consider the affect that it has on them.”
Ben Leonard, Connor O’Brien and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.
