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Veterans Affairs Abandons Mass Layoffs, Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs Through Attrition

Hiring freezes, voluntary retirements plus natural attrition will shrink the VA workforce by September without impacting veteran care

Signboard of United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC on March 25, 2019.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Georgia, testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on Jan. 21, 2025. President Trump nominated Collins as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Overview

  • The VA reversed its original goal of 80,000 layoffs and now plans to reduce staff by almost 30,000 by the end of fiscal 2025
  • Workforce cuts will rely on the extended federal hiring freeze, voluntary early retirements, deferred resignations and normal attrition
  • Agency leaders say all mission-critical roles are exempt and veteran health care and benefits will remain protected
  • The VA’s headcount fell from about 484,000 employees in January to 467,000 by June with roughly 12,000 more exits expected by September
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal and advocacy groups warn that large-scale departures risk eroding staff morale and service quality despite official assurances