IAM Union and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), along with fellow labor unions and allies in Congress are calling for the current administration to stop its plan to recklessly cut the federal workforce, including crucial Veterans Affairs (VA) staff.
NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin joined allies outside VA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in defense of the vital positions VA workers fill across the nation.
“Most people don’t know, but veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce. The federal government is the biggest employer of veterans nationwide,” said Erwin. “When this so-called DOGE says they intend to cut 75% of the federal workforce, that means they intend to fire half a million veterans in this country.”
Erwin joined AFGE President Everett Kelley, National Nurses United member Janet Essex, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Mark Takano and others to stand up against the attack by the current administration on the federal workforce affecting VA employees and the veterans they care for.
Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, hosted the press conference to bring attention to the crisis the VA is facing with the intended cuts.
“To Elon Musk: 9 million veterans are watching you,” said Blumenthal. “We are going to fight Elon Musk’s plan to slash and trash the VA in the biggest power-grab and heist of valuable information and money in our nation’s history. We owe our heroes better.”
“Make no mistake, this would decimate our ability to care for veterans in this country,” said Erwin. “Let’s not forget that we make a solemn promise to every man and woman who wears the uniform that they are going to be cared for when their service is complete. If we lose 75% of the VA workforce, we will no longer be able to make good on that promise.”
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