Overview

• Sen. Ruben Gallego announced he will block the confirmation of VA nominees to oppose the Trump administration's plan to cut over 80,000 positions, reducing VA staffing to 2019 levels.
• Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, argues the cuts will harm veterans' care, particularly under the expanded benefits provided by the 2022 PACT Act.
• The VA workforce reduction coincides with increased demands on the agency to serve veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins, raising concerns among Democrats.
• VA Secretary Doug Collins has pledged that the staffing cuts will not impact veterans' benefits, but critics remain skeptical, citing directives for significant local staff reductions.
• Gallego's procedural hold mirrors a tactic used by Sen. Tommy Tuberville in 2023, highlighting a growing trend of leveraging nominee confirmations to influence policy decisions.