Federal layoffs continue to harm military veterans across the nation. On Tuesday, the national leader of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) criticized the ongoing mass layoffs of government employees.

Al Lipphardt, a Vietnam War veteran, condemned the layoffs and argued veterans - who account for nearly one-third of the federal workforce - are disproportionately affected. He said veterans were “hit hard” by the firings, which have affected thousands of workers across various government agencies during President Trump’s first month in office.

“Since the federal government is the single largest employer of veterans in the nation, it’s veterans who are being indiscriminately harmed in this bull-’DOGE’ing of the federal workforce,” wrote Lipphardt. The term DOGE refers to the Department of Government Efficiency, the new agency tasked with carrying out budget cuts across the federal government.

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government employed 636,937 veterans in September 2021, which equates to roughly 30% of the entire federal workforce. Additionally, half of the veterans in the federal workforce were designated as disabled, meaning they were discharged from the military with a service-connected disability.

It remains unclear, however, how many fired employees are veterans, since no official figures are available. Lipphardt said the VFW, which comprises 1.4 million members across 6,000 posts, already heard from some veterans who were affected. According to Lipphardt, their layoff emails were “disjointed,” “inconsistent,” and given “little to no oversight or thought.”

He went on to claim DOGE made decisions using algorithms and email distribution lists, rather than using more nuanced means to solve complex problems. Earlier this week, many news outlets, including Reuters, covered the rapid rehiring of many employees who DOGE fired days earlier. For example, the administration quickly rehired employees who worked with nuclear weapons and the bird flu.

So far, many fired federal employees served in a probationary status, a designation generally given to workers who are on the job for less than a year, which means they do not possess full civil service protections. However, Lipphardt said some of the veterans who communicated with the VFW worked at the government for far longer and were “caught by a formality in administrative statuses.”

Are veterans at risk of losing benfits?

Late last week, VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video to discuss online speculation regarding the potential loss of VA benefits, which many veterans rely on for cost-of-living and education expenses.

Collins first reaffirmed the VA’s commitment to prioritizing Veterans. “We’re putting Veterans number one back at the VA,” he said. He acknowledged that changes can generate friction, but emphasized that these reforms are aimed at strengthening VA services for Veterans.

He also challenged the claim that VA health care would suffer. Collins categorically denied this, stating the department reinforced health care and benefits by safeguarding 300,000 mission-critical positions to ensure uninterrupted services. 

Regarding the potential loss of Veterans’ benefits, he said, “They’re not.” He then noted the VA had redirected nearly $98 million toward Veterans’ care and services, rather than reducing them.

In the same video, Collins addressed the rumor that VA was laying off Veterans Crisis Line responders. “We did not lay off any Veteran Crisis Line responders,” he stated firmly, assuring that those answering crisis calls remain in place to support Veterans in need.

Gutting the Veterans Administration

In a second round of mass layoffs this month, Veterans Administration leaders dismissed more than 1,400 probationary employees on Monday evening. The dismissals included bargaining-unit employees who have served less than two years in their posts.

Although VA officials said the moves did not impact any mission critical jobs, they did not provide any specifics of the types of assignments eliminated.

“These and other recent personnel decisions are extraordinarily difficult, but VA is focused on allocated its resources to help as many Veterans, families, and caregivers and survivors as possible, VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. “These moves will not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries.”

Although officials specifically noted that Veterans Crisis Line responders were not affected by the either dismissal, workers within the department contradicted these statements and said crisis line support staff were among those fired.

Earlier this month, on February 13, VA leaders announced an initial layoff of around 1,000 probationary employees from non-bargaining units - a move they claimed would save around $98 million. In January, the department also dismissed about 60 employees whose work focused on diversity and inclusion efforts, which President Trump labeled as “harmful” to the workforce.

Monday’s workforce reductions drew harsh criticism from Democratic lawmakers. “I am deeply disturbed by Secretary Collins’ continued actions that are harming veterans, military spouses, civil servants, and their families,” said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “To say that these firings will not affect veterans’ care and benefits is a lie.”

Although the VA possesses nearly 40,000 probationary employees across the country, many are exempt from personnel actions, because they serve in mission-critical positions. Also, about two-thirds of all VA positions are exempt from the federal hiring freeze enacted by the President in January.

Where do veterans go from here?

If a large-scale federal workforce reduction plays out over the next year, veterans will face impacts at a high rate. Veterans tend to be clustered in certain agencies, including those related to defense, security, and veterans’ services. Deep cuts in these agencies will naturally affect them at higher rates.

While many veterans excel in federal roles that draw upon their defense, security, or medical backgrounds, sudden layoffs may force them to seek private-sector work in areas that do not always recognize military or federal credentials. This can lead to underemployment or longer job searches, particularly in less robust, local economies.

Even if some veterans can pivot, others may find it more difficult to re-enter the private sector or move to new locations, leading to a potential spike in underemployment or extended unemployment.

Additionally, a subset of veteran employees may rely on VA healthcare or have service-connected disabilities. Losing the stability of a familiar work environment can pose unique challenges, from continuity of care to navigating new accommodations with a private employer.

Because of their sheer numbers in the federal workforce, especially in agencies most likely to be targeted for cuts, veterans could be disproportionately affected by any large-scale federal downsizing, despite the existence of veterans’ preference rules. The exact impact would vary depending on which agencies and job series see the heaviest cuts, the specific procedures, and how well veterans can reorient to roles outside government.

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