Doug Collins, the Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs, on Wednesday said the agency was planning to cut about 72,000 employees in a major reorganization effort.
Collins, who spoke in a video statement, said the goal was to reduce the workforce to 2019 levels as the agency restructures. He said there will not be any cuts to healthcare or benefits to veterans and beneficiaries.
Collins said critics of the reorganization wants the VA to continue to function as it always had.
"No, not going to happen," he said, noting that the agency's success should not be measured by the number of employees or how much money it spends.
Collins' statement was made after the Associated Press reported that the agency was looking to cut more than 80,000 jobs, according to a memo the news agency obtained.
Veterans’ groups and lawmakers have expressed concern about the job cuts and reorganization, according to the AP. More than 25% of the VA workforce is composed of veterans, and early layoffs have already affected thousands of employees and contracts. Critics warn that reducing staff could slow access to care and weaken oversight.
Michael Missal, the VA’s former inspector general who was dismissed last month amid a broader purge of government watchdogs, said the agency is already struggling with expertise loss, the news agency reported.
“What’s going to happen is VA’s not going to perform as well for veterans, and veterans are going to get harmed,” said Missal.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the cuts, stating they would “ensure greater efficiency and transparency.”
