‘A lot of us rely on the VA' East TN veteran reacts cuts planned at Veterans Affairs
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is putting itself under scrutiny and preparing for a shake-up, as President Donald Trump pushes for a leaner, more efficient federal government.
VA Secretary Doug Collins says the process would cut the VA's staffing level back to where it was in 2019, a decrease of around 15-percent, or roughly 72,000 fewer workers than right now.
'You don't want to see anybody lose their job. That's one of the big things,' said Michael Testerman the Post Commander for American Legion Post 2.
The VA is responsible for operating benefit programs for veterans and their families. Some of the benefits include health care, disability, life insurance, housing assistance, and more. Testerman, like many other veterans, depends mainly on VA healthcare services. He used these services recently to repair his shoulder at the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic.
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'It's wonderful to have at least a VA clinic here in town or Mountain Home Memorial Hospital up in Johnson City, been working through community care. It's a lifesaver for a lot of the families and a lot of people. And I know many of the folks, I have through the American Legion have gone through the VA for different things. A lot of us rely on the VA specifically for our medications,' Testerman explained.
There are many different facets involved when it comes to the VA aside from benefits.
'On the behind-the-scenes side of it, the ones that process the claims. Your veteran service officers and those people. Let's look at that and see where they are, because, I mean, there's thousands of claims a day that get processed. Are we doing it the most efficient way?,' Testerman added.
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He hopes that regardless of what happens that all veterans continue to get benefits and services where they are needed.
'I just hope that Trump and the guys might take a little time, look at it, review it. You've got a lot of veterans out there; a lot of veterans have given the ultimate sacrifice and sacrificed a lot just to be able to maintain what they're doing. And for a lot of veterans, what they make through the VA system, their health care and what little bit they get from Medicare, That's it. That's what they live on,' said Testerman.
Earlier in the week VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed the planned cuts, but insisted in a video posted to social media that veterans and their families would not lose out.
'We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries. The VA always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned. That's a promise,' said Collins.
In the video, Collins added the VA regrets anyone who loses their job and points out it's difficult for him as a VA leader to make those types of decisions.
'It's just detrimental': Tennessee veterans react to proposal to cut 80,000 employees from Veteran Affairs
According to a memo obtained by the Associated Press the reorganization is coming sometime in August. While Collins is on board with President Trump's mission to find cuts, some lawmakers, including some Republicans have shared worries.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the top Republican on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, posted 'The VA is in need of reform but current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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