The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a significant reduction in its workforce, planning to cut nearly 30,000 jobs by the end of fiscal year 2025. This marks a major shift from earlier plans that called for layoffs of over 80,000 employees, a move that drew widespread criticism from veterans groups and lawmakers.
Background and Revised Layoff Plans
At the start of 2025, the VA employed approximately 484,000 workers. By June, the department had already reduced its staff by nearly 17,000 employees through a combination of natural attrition, early retirements, deferred resignations, and a federal hiring freeze. The agency expects an additional 12,000 employees to leave by September 30, bringing the total reduction close to 30,000 without the need for a large-scale, forced reduction-in-force (RIF) layoff.
Originally, the VA had aimed to shrink its workforce to about 400,000, a level seen in 2019, as part of a broader federal downsizing effort initiated under the Trump administration. However, this plan was met with strong opposition, given the VA’s critical role in providing healthcare and benefits to nearly 9 million veterans. The department has now scrapped the mass layoff strategy in favor of a more gradual reduction that safeguards essential services.
Safeguards to Protect Veteran Services
VA Secretary Doug Collins emphasized that the department has implemented multiple safeguards to ensure that these staff reductions will not negatively impact veteran care or benefits. All mission-critical positions remain exempt from voluntary early retirement and deferred resignation programs, and more than 350,000 positions are protected from the federal hiring freeze. The department also highlighted recent improvements in claims processing and electronic health record modernization as signs of progress despite the workforce downsizing.
Reactions and Future Outlook
While the VA’s decision to abandon a large-scale RIF has been welcomed by many, some lawmakers remain concerned about the department’s work environment and the potential long-term effects of losing so many employees in a single year. Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the administration’s policies, calling the high attrition rate “unsustainable” and warning it could eventually affect veteran services.
The VA spokesperson noted that the initial threat of massive layoffs encouraged employees to innovate and find better ways to serve veterans, underscoring the department’s commitment to improving outcomes for veterans and their families. The agency plans to continue refining its operations and service delivery while managing workforce levels responsibly.
This workforce reduction reflects a careful balancing act by the VA to streamline operations while maintaining its commitment to veterans’ care. The department’s approach to reducing staff through natural attrition and voluntary programs rather than forced layoffs suggests a strategic effort to avoid disruption during this transition period.