Unite For Veterans Raises Concerns Regarding VA Vacant Position Eliminations
The Unite For Veterans (U4V) Coalition is concerned by recent reporting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is eliminating tens of thousands of vacant, unfilled positions across the VA health system, including roles in primary care, nursing, mental health, and social work at VA hospitals, clinics, and regional offices.
According to reporting by CNN and The Washington Post, VA facility leaders were informed shortly before Thanksgiving that large numbers of open positions would be removed, in some cases with only days to determine which roles would be eliminated. These actions affect positions across the country and include clinical and mental health roles that facilities had expected to fill.
VA has stated that the positions being eliminated are unfilled and that the changes will have no impact on veteran care. At the same time, VA employees and managers interviewed by national outlets have raised concerns about morale, existing staffing shortages, and the loss of future hiring capacity — particularly in mental health — in facilities already under strain.
“Veterans and VA staff alike deserve clarity and assurance that care will not suffer,” said retired Marine LtCol Joe Plenzler, combat veteran and U4V spokesperson. “When vacant positions disappear from the books — especially clinical roles — it raises real questions about access to care and the long-term health of the VA health system. Veterans notice these attacks regardless of the time of year, and they’re rightly concerned about what this means for their care.”
The VA must be appropriately staffed to deliver the comprehensive, veteran-centered health care that service members have earned and deserve. Staffing capacity is not an abstract issue: it directly affects wait times, provider workload, and the ability of veterans to receive timely, high-quality care — especially for mental health and complex service-connected conditions.
U4V is closely monitoring these developments and the potential implications for veteran care. We are committed to speaking out for veterans’ health care and ensuring that this nation lives up to its obligation to those who served.
Unite For Veterans brought together veterans, military families, frontline VA workers, and allies from across the country on June 6th, 2025, in Washington D.C., to stand up for the promises made to veterans and to affirm that earned benefits and health care must be protected. Since then, the coalition has continued to elevate veteran voices and advocate for policies that support a strong, well-resourced VA.
Unite For Veterans remains committed to ensuring that veterans, their families, and the public have accurate information about changes affecting veteran care — and to being a steady, trusted voice for veterans when concerns arise.
For press contact, please email: info@unite4vets.org
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