1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

This nations Veterans need your help protecting their access to healthcare. With this proposed cut of almost 80,000 employees across the VA will directly impact Veterans ability to receive quality care. This will cause longer wait times on phones, receiving care, and the services they need. “Non-mission essential” staff still support the mission. These can include the scheduling clerks, operators, and cooks. People who aid in smooth service to the Veterans. This can negatively impact the quality of care our nations veterans deserve. For example, social service assistants were fired during the first round of VA firings which affected Veterans calling into the Veterans Crisis Line receiving emergency services being dispatched to their locations. While responders are talking to the Veteran these assistants contact local emergency agencies to go and check on the veteran. They are also responsible for letting hospitals know a Veteran is heading to the Emergency Room with mental health concerns and assuring the Veteran arrives to the ER. Stand up for our Veterans by putting pressure on the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to put a stop to cutting staff without proper analysis of the positions being cut! Mr. Collins has assured these cuts will not affect the Veterans or their benefits which has not been true! I urge you to stand with your Veterans and protect their care! Say NO to any and all DOGE cuts to VA staff! Allow the proper analysis of positions and impact to veterans to occur before cutting staff!