Veterans Getting Hit Hard By Federal Cuts
The federal cuts are continuing under President Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s regime. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is planning to cut 83,000 jobs.
The VA provides healthcare services for millions of veterans, as well as other lesser-known benefits such as housing, life insurance, pensions, education, and assistance in jails and courts. Also, roughly 25% of the VA’s 482,000 employees are veterans themselves.
For the past few months, the Trump administration has been cutting federal spending tremendously. They are causing numerous hardships for government employees and the people they serve. But veterans are among those hardest hit, and they face many challenges as they reintegrate into civilian life. Here’s a look at some of those challenges.
Impact to Medical Care
Cuts to the federal workforce are also affecting medical care for veterans. These cuts come at a time when veterans’ health care needs are increasing. From March 2023 through March 2024, the VA enrolled 400,000 veterans in its benefits system, which is 30% more than the prior year. It also expanded eligibility for former service members to receive VA health care. However, Trump’s cuts will make it more difficult for the VA to provide health care for these newly eligible veterans.
Also, staffing shortages remain rampant. Reports on VA staffing shortages show that 137 of 139 VA health centers nationwide report a severe staffing shortage in at least one area.
Destaffing the Suicide Hotline
These federal cuts have caused the Veterans Crisis Line to lose the employees to layoffs, even though there were staffing shortages to begin with. As many as 900 of the 1,130 crisis-line workers work remotely, so ending remote work will reduce staffing even more.
However, the service fields 60,000 calls a month and literally serves as a lifeline to veterans, given that there are an average of 17.6 veteran suicides per day. In addition, suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among veterans under the age of 45.
Losing Research
The VA invests $916 million a year in research, which has contributed to a comprehensive understanding of veterans’ well-being. VA research has also helped spark major medical breakthroughs on the link between smoking and cancer. VA research and data are instrumental in the social sciences.There are millions of veterans who come from diverse sociodemographic groups, and researchers are able to track them over time.
It is estimated that at least 350 VA researchers will likely lose their jobs. Also, Trump is directing an end to research on poverty and race, so this will undermine the general well-being of veterans as a whole.
Learn More About Veterans Benefits
Veterans deserve every benefit available, but federal cuts are making it hard for these people to access health care, education, and other benefits.
The VA is short-staffed and there are delays. These delays can affect veterans in many ways. Get the legal help you need from a White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. Schedule a consultation today by calling 914-294-2145 or filling out the online form.
Source:
pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-reasons-federal-cuts-are-hitting-veterans-especially-hard
