VA Job Cuts Hit Texas Hospitals and Clinics, Exact Numbers Unknown

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has confirmed a series of layoffs at its hospitals and clinics across Texas but has declined to disclose the total number of employees affected.

According to a statement provided to the San Antonio Express-News, VA medical facilities in San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Temple, and Houston all saw a small number of probationary staff dismissed. These facilities include the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

Who Was Affected?

Probationary employees at the VA are generally those who have been employed for less than two years or, in some cases, less than a year, depending on their specific job classification. While the VA insists that patient care and services will not be negatively impacted, concerns have been raised about the broader implications of these dismissals.

Federal Workforce Cuts Under the Trump Administration

These layoffs align with a broader push by the Trump administration to reduce government spending and streamline federal agencies. The administration has ordered the removal of probationary employees across multiple federal departments, citing efficiency and cost-cutting measures.

The VA defended its decision, stating that eliminating these positions would save over $98 million annually, with those resources redirected toward veterans’ health care, benefits, and services. A statement from the department framed the layoffs as part of a government-wide initiative to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in serving the American public.

However, the agency refused to disclose the number of employees affected at each location, citing privacy concerns. After the Express-News requested a breakdown of terminations by facility, the newspaper filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in an effort to obtain the data.

Political and Union Responses

The layoffs have sparked outcry from lawmakers and federal employee unions. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX), whose district includes more than 50,000 veterans, has been pressing for transparency regarding the terminations. He met with representatives from the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3511, which represents 2,700 VA workers in San Antonio, after union leaders raised concerns over potential additional cuts.

In a letter to VA Secretary Douglas Collins, Castro and several other House Democrats criticized the dismissals, arguing that they contradict the administration’s stated commitment to strengthening the VA.

“Rather than seeking the counsel of Congress, you took unilateral action to abruptly dismiss service-disabled veterans, military spouses, medical researchers, and countless others without apparent justification—undermining the very mission of VA,” the lawmakers wrote.

They further compared the move to the drastic staff cuts seen at Twitter under Elon Musk’s leadership, warning that such mass layoffs could jeopardize services for veterans.

Impact on VA Services

Despite the reductions in VA hospital and clinic staff, there have been no reported layoffs at Texas national cemeteries, such as Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio or Houston National Cemetery, which also fall under the VA’s jurisdiction.

The VA acknowledged that the agency employs over 43,000 probationary staff nationwide, but emphasized that most of them remain protected under collective bargaining agreements or because they hold mission-critical roles.

While the long-term effects of the VA’s workforce cuts remain unclear, both lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to push for answers and accountability regarding the decisions made at the agency.

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