Secretary Doug Collins is making sweeping changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs, cutting thousands of jobs while claiming to improve care for America’s heroes. The controversial restructuring has sparked debate among veterans and lawmakers about whether the cuts will streamline services or harm those who’ve served our nation.
At a glance:
- VA Secretary Doug Collins plans to terminate over 70,000 staffers to improve efficiency
- The VA has already cut 2,400 positions, targeting what Collins calls “unnecessary” spending
- Collins has canceled hundreds of non-critical contracts, saving $900 million
- Treatment for gender dysphoria has been ended to redirect funds to severely injured veterans
- Critics worry about the impact on veteran care, while Collins insists core services will improve
Collins Targets Waste and Bureaucracy
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins is on a mission to overhaul the troubled department by eliminating wasteful spending and unnecessary bureaucracy. Under President Trump’s directive, Collins has already cut 2,400 positions and plans to terminate tens of thousands more as part of a larger effort to return the VA to 2019 staffing levels. The Trump administration is carrying out similar cost-cutting measures across the federal government.
The Secretary has so far identified several examples of outrageous spending priorities at the department. “The VA was paying for PowerPoint slides and meeting notes, for the watering of plants, and consulting contracts to do the work that we should be doing ourselves,” Collins stated in a recent interview.
Prioritizing Core Veteran Services
The Secretary has been adamant that his budget-cutting measures will not negatively impact essential services for veterans. After reviewing less than 2% of the agency’s contracts, Collins found significant waste that could be redirected to core services for the individuals who have served their country.
“The reality is, veterans benefits aren’t getting cut. In fact, we are actually giving and improving services,” Collins emphasized in a statement addressing concerns about potential cuts to Veterans’ benefits.
Among the most controversial decisions has been ending treatment for so-called “gender dysphoria.” Collins explained that this funding would also be reallocated to care for severely injured veterans and amputees.
Veterans Express Mixed Reactions
The sweeping changes have drawn criticism from some veterans and former VA employees who worry about the impact on care quality. Jeremy Cope, a former U.S. Marine, is nervous about program cancellations at his facility due to staffing shortages.
“We have also had a lot of scheduled groups that are being canceled simply because we don’t have the staff to facilitate them. And so that leaves us veterans to our own devices. A lot of people just isolate in their rooms. And for people who suffer from substance use disorder or mental health issues, isolation is one of the worst things you can do,” Cope stated.
Collins has pushed back against these criticisms, repeatedly insisting that frontline positions directly serving veterans are protected from cuts. The Secretary’s team, however, points to persistent problems like benefit backlogs and healthcare wait times that remain despite increased budgets and staffing in previous years.
Collins is undeterred by the pushback, declaring, “I’m not going to allow the VA to be the whipping post anymore. We’re actually going to solve problems and keep doing our job, so for anybody on the Hill or in unions who wants to complain.”
