黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 congressional delegation and veterans advocates are criticizing a leaked internal memo revealing the federal government's plans to cut more than 80,000 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workers.
The job cuts could impact the estimated 150,000 veterans living in the state.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of 黑料吃瓜网, along with other federal officials, are calling for more details about potential cost cutting at the department. In a statement, Blumenthal said the cuts will only end up hurting veterans, who make up more than 25% of the VA鈥檚 workforce.
鈥淭heir plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans鈥� care, balancing the budget on the backs of those who served,鈥� Blumenthal said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a shameful betrayal and veterans will pay the price for their unforgivable corruption, incompetence and immorality.鈥�
Blumenthal said President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration also tried implementing widespread job cuts at the VA during his first term, but withdrew because of widespread opposition.
Blumenthal referenced an attempt by the Trump administration to move the VA鈥檚 pharmacy operations to the Department of Defense (DOD).
鈥淭hey think using DOD will make it cheaper, but it won't work that way, because top prescriptions are going to be very different among these two agencies,鈥� Blumenthal said.
According to Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, the federal government doesn鈥檛 appear to be reconsidering the move to dismiss workers.
鈥淭he pleas to include veterans in the conversation has fallen on deaf ears,鈥� Eaton said. 鈥淭his deliberate dismantling of the VA is not only dangerous, it's not only callous, it's an outright betrayal of the commitment made to veterans.鈥�
There鈥檚 no word from the federal government regarding how many 黑料吃瓜网-based VA workers may be impacted by potential staff cuts.
A VA press secretary, Peter Kasperowicz, acknowledges that there are people complaining about the changes underway. In a statement to 黑料吃瓜网, he said that 鈥渕any are using rumor, innuendo and disinformation to spread fear in the hopes that the department will just keep doing the same thing it has always done.鈥�
"VA will always provide Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned,鈥� Kasperowicz said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e also making major improvements to strengthen the department,鈥� noting that funding is being redirected from efforts that aren鈥檛 mission-critical to health care, benefits and services that support beneficiaries.
He added that the agency has 鈥渁n obligation to make VA work better for the Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving, and that is what we will do."
黑料吃瓜网, , showed total expenditures at nearly $2 billion for the year. That includes compensation, pension payments and educational and vocational programs. Medical care for VA patients in 黑料吃瓜网 made up nearly half of the costs.
Some veterans regularly go to the VA medical center in West Haven for treatment. It is the only VA hospital in the state that performs in-patient care. Recently, veterans and their advocates rallied outside the facility in protest of the job cuts.
Renee Luneau-Sheckfee, a registered nurse at the center, said talk of cost-cutting has impacted morale among workers.
Luneau-Sheckfee says cutting staff would reduce medical care for veterans. She also said the recent communication is a way for the federal government to pressure workers to quit voluntarily, but she said she will stay.
Luneau-Sheckfee is among federal employees who received emails from the government, asking them to accept a resignation offer and/or justify their position with five accomplishments during their work week.
鈥淚 could tell you what I didn't do last week. I didn't take lunch a single day, and I didn't take a 15-minute break a single day, because we're trying to do a lot with what little we have,鈥� she said.
This story has been updated to include comments from a VA spokesperson.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the amount of money spent for veterans' services in 黑料吃瓜网 in 2023. It was $2 billion, not $2 million.
