Kelly Statement on VA Workforce Reductions
Today, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement after President Trump’s Department of Veterans Affairs announced it would move forward with plans to reduce their workforce by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of September:
“These cuts will mean longer wait times for veterans in crisis, fewer health care providers, and delays for veterans accessing the benefits they’ve earned. And without a clear plan to protect the quality of care, the risks to veterans only grow. I’ve been pushing back against these cuts from the start, and I’ll keep fighting for Arizona veterans until the VA reverses course.”
What these cuts will mean for veterans:
- Longer wait times and canceled appointments as clinics lose doctors, nurses, and frontline staff critical to day-to-day care.
- Fewer crisis responders and mental health resources, including reduced capacity at the Veterans Crisis Line and the closure of detox and inpatient mental health beds.
- Delays in disability claims and benefits access, with fewer staff available to process applications and support veterans navigating the system.
- Loss of vital support programs, such as mortgage assistance for veterans at risk of losing their homes and small business help.
- Accelerated push toward privatization, as understaffing leads to more veterans being pushed into community care, weakening the VA from within.
Background:
Senator Kelly has been a leading voice in opposing indiscriminate staffing reductions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Earlier this year, he led a letter with the Arizona delegation opposing proposed layoffs at the Phoenix VA, where staff cuts threatened to delay care and overwhelm providers. He also introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate veterans wrongfully terminated as part of broader federal workforce cuts. Kelly has pressed VA leadership in multiple letters and public statements, demanding transparency around firings and calling for a full reversal of the administration’s plan.
