Hiring Freeze
As was forewarned, Project 2025 under a Trump administration is moving to decimate federal staffing. In response to a blanket federal 90 day hiring freeze, the Acting VA Secretary issued a directive supposedly protecting VA jobs, but exemptions were primarily for medical and medical support staff and did not include nonclinical positions such as food service, custodial, and clerical positions.
Cutting VA research hurts all Americans
The Trump/Musk administration is forcing terminations at the US Department of Veterans Affairs research office, jeopardizing projects that advance treatments for cancer, drug withdrawal, and more. The hiring freezes, contract cancellations, and federal employee firings are being conducted without rhyme or reason. No consideration is being given to the impact of these actions on America's veterans and all citizens.
The ACCESS Act opens the door to poor mental health care for veterans
Tell Congress top vote NO on the ACCESS Act. There are provisions in the Act that further privatization, including codifying current access standards for the next eight years. Congress needs to start over and listen to the critiques expressed during the Congressional hearing on March 11, 2025.
The House decreases the VA health care budget for 2026
The 2026 VA budget decreases the VA budget from $69 billion to $57 billion while increasing community care 50%, and cuts back staffing to already understaffed 2019 levels without considering the 500,000 veterans added under the 2020 PACT Act. This budget will benefit the insurance companies and private hospital chains, not veterans who depend upon VA services and want it expanded and improved.
The Access Act hastens turning the VA into an insurance company
This legislation is a thinly veiled attempt to divert public funds to the private sector under the guise of veterans' choice. Take action now.
VA Secretary Doug Collins' actions are crushing morale and care
VA Secretary Collins is dismissive of complaints about proposed staff cuts and lack of adequate workspace, does not answer Congress' questions about staff and research cuts, and does not explain shifting funds to the VCCP without congressional approval.
