Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., joins veterans and other Democratic lawmakers on May 6, 2025, for a rally on Capitol Hill. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Dozens of veterans and Democratic lawmakers gathered Tuesday afternoon on Capitol Hill to advocate for veterans who rely on services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and push back against the Trump administration’s planned job cuts at the agency.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., spoke at the rally, holding a sign with the words “Not for Sale” over the VA’s emblem, and surrounded by veterans holding the same placard.
“Millions and millions of veterans from across the country who depend on the VA for their health care, who have benefits they deserve under the PACT Act, we’re not going to let veterans be betrayed by this administration,” Blumenthal told the crowd.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks to veterans and other Democratic lawmakers during a Capitol Hill rally on May 6, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The VA, which employs more than 470,000 workers, has had a hiring freeze in place since laying off several hundred workers in February as part of a mass firing of probationary workers by the administration of President Donald Trump. The VA — the second-largest agency in the federal government — has terminated 1,400 probationary workers since January.
The VA also plans to lay off up to 83,000 employees by August, according to an internal memo from the VA chief of staff. The reduction in force will drop staffing to 2019 levels.
“Two things come to mind for me: To be pissed off as patriots that this care is being taken away, that the fundamental promise we’ve heard about and talked about today is being broken,” said Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y. “But what I ask us all to focus on, is pride. … I am damn proud to be here with all of you here today.”
The event was organized by Common Defense, a veteran-led organization committed to organizing, training and mobilizing veterans to elect and promote progressive leaders and values.
Hours before the rally, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, left, greets VA Secretary Doug Collins at a hearing on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The hearing focused on the future of the VA and Collins defended his management of the agency from critical questions by Democrats. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the committee, is seen between Moran and Collins. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
VA Secretary Doug Collins has stated the layoffs will make the agency run more efficiently and be more responsive to the nine million veterans it serves. The VA delivers a range of benefits and services to veterans, including health care, tuition assistance and disability compensation.
But some lawmakers and veterans advocates have argued the VA job cuts will have an impact on benefits and services.
“The reality of the situation is that you should not have to be here. You shouldn’t have to come to D.C. to fight for your jobs. You shouldn’t have to come to D.C. to fight for your health care and you without a doubt should not have to come here to fight for basic dignity,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., joins veterans and other Democratic lawmakers on May 6, 2025, at a rally on Capitol Hill. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
