VA Plans to Eliminate 35,000 Healthcare Positions Despite Record Veteran Enrollment

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 healthcare positions, mostly unfilled jobs including doctors, nurses, and support staff, according to internal memos obtained by the Washington Post. The cuts would reduce VA healthcare workforce to as few as 372,000 employees—a 10% reduction from 2024 levels.

This follows approximately 30,000 position eliminations earlier in fiscal year 2025, bringing total cuts to over 65,000 positions. VA’s Veterans Health Administration instructed managers to cancel thousands of job openings. The 42,518 vacancies included 7,560 nurses, 4,400 schedulers, 2,800 physicians, 1,900 social workers, 1,650 nursing assistants, and 1,230 pharmacists.

The cuts would return VA to pre-PACT Act staffing levels despite over one million veterans newly enrolled under expanded eligibility. Senator Richard Blumenthal led 37 senators demanding answers, stating “unfilled does not mean unnecessary—and there are no excuses for failing to fill these mission critical jobs in the first place.”

VA spokesperson claimed eliminations would “have no effect on VA operations” as positions are “no longer needed.” But veterans groups warn the cuts will increase wait times, reduce care quality, and force veterans into the private sector—potentially funneling taxpayer dollars to private healthcare providers.