Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Plan to Eliminate More Than 35,000 VA Health Care Positions

Duckworth Statement on Trump's Plan to Eliminate More Than 35,000 VA Health Care Positions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement in reaction to the Trump Administration's reported plan to eliminate more than 35,000 VA health care positions this month-on top of the almost 30,000 employees cut from the VA workforce earlier this year:

"Trump has already fired more Veterans than any other President in history. And now, by cruelly planning to eliminate tens of thousands of VA health care positions in addition to the indiscriminate cuts he made to the VA workforce earlier this year, Trump is proving once again that he couldn't care less about those actually brave enough to wear the uniform of this great nation. Not only is Trump guaranteeing that our VA won't have the number of staff needed to handle the influx of new claims, but he is also ensuring that our Veterans will wait even longer to get treated-if they can get treatment at all.

"In his first year in office, Trump's track record easily makes his Administration the most anti-Veteran Administration our country has ever seen. He continues to make it clear that once our troops have completed their service to our country and hang up their uniform, Trump will not keep his promise to ensure these heroes have the support, care and benefits they've earned.

"It's downright insulting, un-American and the ultimate betrayal."

-30-