NEWS: Congressman Casar Leads Call For Trump Administration to Save Veterans’ Services, Demands Answers On Proposed Cuts
In letter to VA, Casar, Castro, and Doggett write:“Veteran care should not suffer to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and giant corporations.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmen Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) released a letter urging the Trump Administration to reinstate staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The letter warns that large cuts proposed by the administration could increase wait times at VA hospitals and reduce access to critical care.
The letter, addressed to Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, calls on the department to implement a recent U.S. district court ruling rolling back the administration’s cuts. The Trump Administration had terminated over 1,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees and planned to fire over 80,000 total workers.
The members of Congress relay reports that “in one VA clinic, at least two departments lost half their staff, creating delays for patients.” They also express concern that proposed cuts would reverse progress made since Congress passed the PACT Act to expand VA benefits and reduce wait times.
In addition to rehiring fired employees, the members of Congress urge the department to respond to a series of questions including what positions were eliminated, how many veterans were fired, and how wait times changed after the first round of firings.
The letter states: “Veteran care should not suffer to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and giant corporations. Our veterans honorably served to protect this country. We must improve care and support for our veterans, rather than slash the basic services that we do provide. We urge you to reverse the reckless cuts you have made to veteran services.”
Read the full letter here.