Gallego Calls on VA to Stop Cuts to 358 Health Care Jobs at Phoenix VA

WASHINGTON - Following reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 health care positions nationwide, including 358 at the Phoenix VA, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) called on the VA to cancel the proposed cuts and protect veterans' access to health care.

READ MORE: Sen. Gallego calls on Trump administration to cancel VA job cuts (KJZZ)

"At a time of already critical staffing shortfalls, the elimination of these positions will further delay access to care, harm veterans and their families nationwide, and erode trust in the care they are promised and deserve," Senator Gallego wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins. "Our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors deserve the highest standard of care. VA routinely provides that-but only if there are providers and support staff to see them."

These cuts are in addition to the 30,000 jobs the VA eliminated this year. Earlier this year, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that VA facilities had more than 4,000 severe staffing shortages-a 50 percent increase from the previous year. According to the report, 94 percent of VA facilities faced severe shortages of medical officers, and 79 percent reported severe nursing shortages.

"According to recent reporting, under this plan 358 healthcare openings in Phoenix-including nurses and doctors-will be eliminated," Senator Gallego continued. "The VA Phoenix Health Care System is already facing severe occupational staffing shortages in primary care, mental health, radiology, nursing, and health technician professions […] Due to these staffing shortages, the average wait time for new patients at most Phoenix-area VA facilities was found to be above the standard of 20 days for primary care and mental health appointments."

Senator Gallego's letter asks the VA to provide answers on:

• How many and which positions the VA plans to eliminate in Arizona, and whether any current employees will be laid off;
• Which VA regional offices may close as a result of these cuts, and how those decisions were made;
• How the VA will maintain access to high-quality health care amid existing staffing shortages, including access to mental health care and treatment for toxic-exposure-related illnesses and injuries under the PACT Act; and
• Plans to reduce appointment wait times despite these cuts.

"Eliminating over 30,000 health care roles will stretch an already overburdened VA healthcare workforce, leading to longer wait times and reduced access to care for veterans. Your plan threatens to undermine the VA's mission and endanger the care that veterans have earned through their service, and I encourage you to reconsider," Senator Gallego concluded.

Read the full letter HERE.

12/16/25