On April 1, 2025, Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona announced he is placing a blanket hold on all nominees for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This action is in response to plans to cut over 80,000 jobs within the department.
• The job cuts were confirmed by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, who stated that the department aims to reduce staff back to 2019 levels, which would involve cutting approximately 84,000 positions.
• A leaked memo from Christopher Syrek, the department's chief of staff, revealed these plans on March 4.
• Collins has claimed that these cuts can be made without impacting healthcare or benefits for veterans.
• Senator Gallego expressed strong concerns, saying that reducing the workforce could harm services for veterans and their families. As a veteran himself, he emphasized the importance of reliable healthcare.
• Gallego's action means that the Senate must now confirm VA nominees individually, which is a slower process compared to the usual en bloc confirmation that requires unanimous consent.
• This form of protest is not unique; other senators, like Tommy Tuberville, have also used blanket holds in response to unfavorable policies.
Gallego's hold reflects a significant protest against the job cuts proposed for the Department of Veterans Affairs, highlighting ongoing tensions over how best to serve veterans while managing the department's budget. The response from the VA suggests a divide in perspectives on how to improve the agency's efficiency and services.
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