WASHINGTON (AP) — As lawmakers in Congress rush to react to President Donald Trump’s drastic cuts to the federal government, one group has stepped prominently into the spotlight: military veterans.
With job losses at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Pentagon removal of records that showcased diversity within the military, veterans have been significantly impacted by Trump’s decisions. As the Republican president persists with his plans to further reduce the federal government, the challenges for veterans—who constitute around 30% of the federal workforce and often rely on government benefits earned through their service—will only intensify.
“In a time of crisis for our veterans, the VA’s system of healthcare and benefits has been scandalously and regretfully placed on the chopping block by the Trump administration,” declared Sen. Richard Blumenthal, leading Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, during a recent press conference.
Despite nearly 6 in 10 veterans voting for Trump last year — as reported by AP Votecast, a nationwide survey of over 120,000 voters — congressional Republicans remain firm in their support for Trump’s initiatives, even as they face strong reactions in their local districts. This week, during a number of town halls, veterans confronted Republican representatives with frustration as they defended the cuts instituted under Trump advisor Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
“Do your job!” shouted Jay Carey, a military veteran, at Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards during a town hall in North Carolina.
“I’m a retired military officer,” spoke an attendee at another event in Wyoming, questioning Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman about whether DOGE had indeed uncovered any “fraud.”
While Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson recommended his colleagues to avoid town halls, suggesting they were filled with paid demonstrators, some Republicans continued to hold these events and sought to address the backlash.
“It may appear extreme, but it’s stewardship in my opinion,” commented Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida during a tele-town hall. “I believe they are acting in the best interest of the American taxpayer, and I endorse that principle of DOGE.”
However, some Republicans have voiced concerns about the seemingly arbitrary dismissals of veterans, particularly since they have not been fully informed about the administration’s strategies. At a town hall on Friday, Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw told the audience, “We’re learning about these issues as quickly as you are. It appears there have been some unnecessary sacrifices, but we are still gathering information.”
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, added, “If you’re performing a valuable job effectively, we need to advocate for you.”
The Republican chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Mike Bost, assured participants on a tele-town hall last week that he and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins are in regular communication. As the VA plans to eliminate about 80,000 jobs, Bost stated he is closely monitoring the situation but reaffirmed support, echoing Collins’ assurances that veterans’ healthcare and benefits won’t face reductions.
“Numerous cuts have been made, but let me clarify: essential positions are not being affected,” Bost noted, although he added that his office is aiding the VA in notifying them when essential roles have indeed been terminated.
This month, two federal judges instructed the Trump administration to reinstate the probationary employees who were dismissed in the sweeping layoffs. At the VA, some of those impacted have since been placed on administrative leave, yet a palpable sense of anxiety and uncertainty lingers across much of the federal workforce.
“We’re all left questioning what will happen next,” remarked Dan Foster, a Washington state Army veteran who lost his job when VA canceled a contract for a program that supported educating service members on accessing their benefits and VA services.
Others feel frustrated at being labeled as excess personnel, particularly after being let go from jobs that they believed were crucial in providing veterans access to healthcare.
“For anyone to go on the air and claim we are incompetent or lazy — that’s utterly false,” expressed Future Zhou, an Army veteran who managed medical supply inventories at the VA facility in Puget Sound, Washington, before her termination in February.
As Democrats look to establish their political position and find a central unifying cause, they have focused on defending veterans. In both the House and the Senate, Democrats have proposed legislation aimed at guarding veterans from the mass layoffs. Furthermore, in response to Trump’s address to Congress this month, many lawmakers invited veterans to attend as their guests.
“They are furious,” stated Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, Iraq War veteran, and former assistant secretary at the VA. “They believed Donald Trump would stand by them. Yet the first action he takes is to dismiss them.”
Democrats are actively urging their Republican counterparts to demonstrate support for veterans. During discussions regarding the passage of a Republican-backed government funding bill this month, Democrats successfully pushed for a vote to amend the proposal to include provisions safeguarding veterans from federal layoffs. Nonetheless, it did not pass along party lines because this last-minute alteration would have caused Congress to miss the deadline to prevent a shutdown.
With the midterm elections in sight, VoteVets, a progressive veterans’ advocacy organization, is already rolling out video advertisements featuring veterans recounting their job losses and criticizing congressional members for doing “absolutely nothing.” These ads target five potential swing districts currently held by Republican veterans.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat and fellow veteran, expressed uncertainty regarding whether veterans will change their political loyalties.
However, he noted that it is evident veterans are “angry.”
Gallego emphasized the chance for Democrats to capitalize on the narrative that “Elon Musk and his associates prioritize profits and tax cuts over veterans’ welfare.”
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Contributions from Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Chapin, S.C., and Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla.
