Key Takeaways:
- Army veteran Jose Vasquez faces staffing shortages during his cancer treatment at a VA hospital.
- Trump plans to cut 83,000 VA jobs, worsening care for veterans.
- The VA is a unique healthcare system with no monthly costs for most services.
- Privatization efforts threaten the VA’s mission to provide quality care for veterans.
Veterans’ Healthcare in Crisis
Army veteran Jose Vasquez knows the challenges of getting life-saving care at a VA hospital. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he underwent surgery at the VA hospital in Manhattan. During his stay, he noticed that nurses were stretched thin, caring for many patients with severe health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Vasquez’s experience is not unique. The Trump administration’s plan to cut 83,000 VA jobs this year will likely make things worse. In March, a leaked internal memo revealed these cuts as part of a broader effort to shrink the government workforce.
The VA operates three hospitals in New York City, with a total of 496 beds and 120 nursing home beds. These facilities are already struggling with staffing shortages, and the planned layoffs will only add to the problem. The cuts come just three years after Congress passed the PACT Act, which expanded benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.
Rallying Against Cuts
On April 9, the New York State Nurses Union and veteran groups protested the layoffs in front of the Manhattan VA Hospital. Nancy Hagans, president of the nurses’ union, criticized the administration for trying to take away union rights and abandon patients. “We will not leave our patients behind!” she declared.
One young transgender veteran shared how VA support saved their life. After calling the veteran crisis hotline in 2014, they received help applying for benefits, including hormone therapy. But now, the hotline is underfunded and understaffed, leaving many veterans in crisis without the support they need.
A History of Supporting Veterans
The U.S. has a long history of caring for its veterans. After the Revolutionary War, veterans received pensions. Following the Civil War, the government built “soldiers’ homes” to provide lifelong care. After World War I, new hospitals focused on rehabilitating veterans. The GI Bill after World War II expanded education and homeownership opportunities for veterans while modernizing VA healthcare.
The VA healthcare system is unlike most private healthcare systems in the U.S. It offers free services without monthly premiums, deductibles, or copays. This makes it a vital resource for millions of veterans.
Under Threat: Privatization Efforts
Despite its importance, the VA faces threats from privatization. Since 2011, the Koch Brothers have funded Concerned Veterans for America, a group pushing to privatize VA services. Former executive director Pete Hegseth, now Trump’s defense secretary, has been a key figure in this effort.
Privatization supporters claim it will improve care, but many veterans and healthcare workers disagree. “Private companies aim to make money for shareholders,” said Susan Schnall, president of Veterans For Peace. “You can’t make money and provide quality care at the same time.”
The Fallout of Layoffs
Layoffs and understaffing are just the start of the problem. Without support staff like housekeepers, food preparers, and radiology technicians, VA hospitals cannot function properly. Schnall warned that even if doctors and nurses aren’t laid off, poor working conditions could drive them away.
“These cuts are like taking the battery out of a car and saying it doesn’t work,” said a longtime VA nurse. “Then they sell it off for parts.”
The Future of VA Healthcare
The VA’s unique system has led to groundbreaking medical discoveries, from the cardiac pacemaker to the CT scanner. These innovations have benefited not just veterans but the entire world.
However, privatization could end this legacy. “It’s immoral to strip nurses and other staff of their union rights and abandon patients,” said Hagans. For veterans like Jose Vasquez, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The fight to protect the VA is a fight for the lives of millions of veterans who depend on it.
Final Thoughts:
Veterans have always held a special place in American culture. Politicians from both parties have promised to support them. But actions speak louder than words. The Trump administration’s plan to cut 83,000 VA jobs threatens the very existence of the VA healthcare system.
For veterans like Jose Vasquez, the VA is more than just a hospital—it’s a lifeline. Let’s hope it remains that way.