In an era of massive government cuts, the Department of Veterans Affairs faces an uncertain future. While proposed spending bills include increases to VA funding, other plans call for significant cuts to the department’s workforce. These cuts raise concerns among veterans who require access to benefits. 

The Planned Cuts to the VA

The Trump administration recently announced plans to cut 83,000 jobs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, rolling back staffing levels to 2019.

Between 2019 and 2024, the VA added over 82,000 workers to its payroll, according to the Military Times. Many of these jobs were added to support the veterans who became eligible for benefits under the PACT Act during that time. Other jobs were added in the VA’s medical departments and facilities to support veterans’ medical needs and to safeguard against retirements and departures from older workers. 

In early 2025, the VA announced plans to cut approximately 10,000 medical jobs when the expected retirements did not materialize. These plans sought a rebalance of the VA’s medical workforce to ensure the VA could provide adequate mental health support without undercutting other medical services. 

The VA’s proposed 10,000 cuts to medical jobs, however, remain significantly lower than the 83,000 jobs the administration currently proposes to cut. The cutting of these jobs would not have affected workers hired to ensure that veterans received benefits to which they are entitled. 

The administration’s proposed cuts are more far-reaching. These cuts target approximately 83,000 jobs throughout the VA. They include thousands of roles created to allow the VA to ensure veterans have timely access to their benefits. 

Opponents of the cuts point out that personnel account for only 4 percent of the VA’s total budget, so cutting them may not result in significant cost savings. They also point to the significant delays veterans experienced when seeking benefits before 2019. They fear that if the VA cuts 83,000 jobs, veterans will once again find themselves waiting for months or years before their benefits claims are processed. 

Possible Effects of VA Cuts for Veterans

Understaffing at the VA has caused issues for many years. In 2014, concerns arose about the VA’s long waits for health care, including mental health care. 

Efforts to address these wait times have improved matters somewhat, but understaffing remains a problem at many VA facilities. An August 2024 report from the Office of the Inspector General found “at least one severe occupational staffing shortage” at 137 of 139 surveyed VA facilities.

In 2022, Congress passed the PACT Act, which made it easier for veterans to receive benefits for illnesses stemming from exposure to toxic chemicals at burn pits. The VA’s benefits backlogs increased in 2023 as many veterans filed for their PACT Act benefits, but additional hiring helped resolve the issue.

Congress also provided funding for PACT Act benefits when it loosened the requirements for veterans to receive benefits. Without adequate staffing, however, the VA may not be able to disburse the funds provided for these benefits. Veterans will wait longer for the help they need, and the VA will have more difficulty getting designated benefits funds into the hands of those who earned them.  

Veterans may also lose access to other essential forms of assistance. For example, the VA assists some veterans with finding counseling, health care, and housing. If these positions are eliminated, veterans may not have the help they need in finding essential care or securing basic needs. 

Other Staffing Challenges at the VA

Proposed staffing cuts aren’t the only challenges the VA currently faces. Recently, all VA mental health staff were ordered to return to work in person. This order is causing disarray in some VA offices and may undermine care for veterans.

Many VA therapists were hired to communicate with patients via telehealth. Telehealth appointments for counseling can be effective and convenient for many patients. 

However, bringing these staff members into VA offices poses problems. Most offices don’t have the space for all the therapists, which raises the risk that a veteran’s discussion with a counselor may not be completely confidential. 

VA therapists have been asked to warn patients about this issue. A warning does not solve the problem, however. It places veterans in a tough position: risk having your privacy violated, or skip therapy? 

What to Do If You Need Help Accessing VA Benefits

Attorney David W. Magann focuses on connecting veterans with the benefits they need and deserve. Navigating the VA can be tough, especially if you’re already dealing with a serious illness or other challenges. To learn more, reach out to our office today.