Donald Trump promised “to take good care” of veterans. But so far, he isn’t making good on that promise. Instead, his administration is making the lives of veterans more difficult with its proposal to lay off 15% of the workforce in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and cancel 585 contracts with outside service and support providers.
Veteran Lives Are in Danger
The VA has dismissed 2,400 employees, and an additional 80,000 job cuts are expected to take place in the future, according to VA Secretary Doug Collins. The layoffs would affect all areas of VA, including critical support staff in medical, health care, and administrative departments. Additionally, the list of canceled contracts includes services crucial for the safe operations of VA hospitals and clinics, as well as research and studies regarding cancer and suicide prevention, among others.
Fewer staff in an already understaffed VA will likely make it even harder for veterans to access important services. The layoffs and contract cancellations will impact the efficiency in providing medical and health care, result in increased waiting time, and halt important research. All of this will put the lives of veterans in danger.
Robots on Call
One of the VA departments that will be heavily affected by the layoffs is the call center that veterans use to schedule their medical appointments. As reported by CNN, agents who handle the calls will be fired and replaced by automation. This means that veterans won’t be able to rely on humans who will have a deep understanding of their issues and assist them with their needs or answer their questions.
The decision prompted a reaction from Rep. Mike Levin, who sent a letter to Collins to express his concerns. According to Levin, “an automated answering system would inevitably lead to mistakes and poor service that could be resolved by ensuring there is a person on the other end of the line.” Additionally, he pointed out how elderly and disabled veterans could struggle navigating the automation system.
Veterans Deserved Better
Veterans are no strangers to putting their lives on the line when on the battlefield. However, they shouldn’t have to continue doing that when their military service is over. Their country should serve them just like they served their country. Veterans deserved better, and hopefully, Trump and his administration will recognize that before it’s too late.
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