What we know about the firings of federal workers at Zablocki VA Medical Center
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs fired about 10 people, including veterans, Monday from the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
They were among 1,400 federal workers who lost their jobs Monday in the latest round of cuts at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, bringing the total number of VA layoffs to 2,400 in less than a month.
The Veterans Affairs firings are part of the effort by President Donald Trump and mega-billionaire Elon Musk to radically shrink the federal workforce.
Here's what we know so far about the layoffs.
At least three of the approximately 10 people laid off Monday from Zablocki were military veterans. All of them were still in their probationary period, which requires a yearlong commitment to the VA. One of those terminated had one day remaining before being considered a career employee with greater civil service protections.
All of the 1,400 VA workers nationwide who lost their jobs in the latest firings were "bargaining-unit probationary employees," the VA said in a statement. Zablocki employs about 2,000 workers.
The mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is "to fulfill President (Abraham) Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."
The VA works to provide health, education, disability and financial benefits to veterans.
Zablocki and other VA medical centers provide health care, mental health counseling, job training and other services to veterans.
A top watchdog in the federal government said the mass firings of probationary employees appear to be illegal, and asked a specialized labor board to pause the terminations of six employees in six federal agencies so the watchdog could investigate.
The employees in question were fired by the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and the Office of Personnel Management, according to Hampton Dellinger, who operates in a federal whistleblower protection entity called the Office of Special Counsel.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins slamming the firings of VA employees.
"Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to make room in the budget for tax breaks for billionaires, paid for by ripping the rug out from our Veterans and forcing the hard-working doctors, nurses, and staff at the VA out the door," Baldwin said in a statement Tuesday. "It doesn't get much lower than this. The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to reverse this decision and live up to our responsibility to take care of those who served us."
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Madison, Democrat, also criticized the firings Tuesday.
"To the richest man in the world and President Trump, VA services and veterans are waste, fraud, and abuse. I strongly disagree," Moore said in a statement. "These indiscriminate firings completely undermine our commitment to our veterans. Instead of firing veterans, it is time to fire Elon Musk."
Pocan told the Journal Sentinel Tuesday that VA employees expressed concern that cuts could "slow down people's access to service, their healthcare." He said some in the VA think the government will also scrutinize the disability status of veterans.
And Gov. Tony Evers called the firings a "slap in the face" to those who've served.
"The Trump Administration's decision to recklessly fire federal employees who have families to feed and bills to pay is wrong as it is. Indiscriminately firing thousands of our veterans and people who help care for them is appalling," Evers said.
"We make a promise to our veterans and their families that we will always be there and support them when they return to civilian life — that's an obligation we should take seriously. Baselessly firing our veterans is a slap in the face to them and the families who've sacrificed so much for all of us."
The Journal Sentinel also reached out to Republican congressional delegates for interviews on the recent VA axes. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Janesville Republican, didn't directly address the decision to terminate employees at the various VA medical centers, but he expressed support for veterans more generally.
'Our men and women who have worn the uniform and sacrificed for our nation deserve the absolute best care when they return home," Steil said in an emailed statement. "In Congress, I've prioritized access to care for veterans and will always work to ensure that our veterans receive the treatment they deserve and the benefits they've earned."
On Tuesday, Collins, the VA secretary, echoed Steil's sentiment on veterans' health in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter. He reported that recent cuts federal VA contracts have yielded $2 billion in cost savings that will go back to supporting veterans' health and benefits.
Collins identified severed contracts related to creating PowerPoint slides, compiling meeting minutes, coaching and training, and executive support.
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson could not be reached for an interview, but he told Fox Business's Elizabeth MacDonald last Thursday that, in general, he "loves what Elon is doing."
Lawrence Andrea of the Journal Sentinel contributed.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we know about the firings of Milwaukee VA federal workers
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LA protests: California questions Trump's military response
The Pentagon mobilized 700 Marines and doubled the National Guard troops in response to immigration enforcement protests Marines expected to reach Los Angeles by Tuesday morning California Governor Gavin Newsom sues the Trump administration over deployment of the National Guard and Marines Australia speaks to US over reporter shot with rubber bullet while covering anti-Ice protests This blog covers the latest developments in the United States on Tuesday, June 10, as President Donald Trump's administration deploys active-duty Marines to deal with the LA protests: Australia has raised concerns with the United States government after a reporter was seemingly targeted and shot with a rubber bullet while covering protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred," Albanese said. The incident during which Australia's Nine News US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was shot live on camera. Albanese said he also spoke to Tomasi. She wrote on Sunday that she was a "bit sore" but otherwise well, adding it was "important we keep on telling the stories that need to be told." President Donald Trump's administration has announced the deployment of 700 active-duty US Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. The move has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who described the deployment as "deranged" and accused the President of using the military to serve his own political interests. "This isn't about public safety," Governor Newsom said. "It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego." The deployment of active-duty military personnel within US cities is highly unusual and has raised concerns among local officials. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the arrival of Marines without prior coordination posed a significant logistical and operational challenge. He expressed confidence in the police department's ability to manage large-scale demonstrations independently. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also condemned the move, calling it a "deliberate attempt to create disorder and chaos in our city." "I feel like we are part of an experiment that we did not ask to be a part of," she said. About 700 active-duty Marines are heading to Los Angeles on Tuesday - a move that state and city officials say will only make things worse. What started as peaceful demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on Friday has become more heated. The situation escalated after President Donald Trump ordered in the National Guard, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's opposition. Protesters and law enforcement clashed, with cars set on fire in the streets. It's the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed active-duty troops to back up the National Guard at home. Stay with DW for real-time news, analysis, and insights from our correspondents on the ground as we continue to cover the LA protests.
Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
MAGA Supporters Counter Anti-ICE Protests: 'Go Back to Mexico'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Several Donald Trump supporters in Tampa, Florida, have started counter-protests to anti-ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, demonstrations. Video footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows a man holding a red "MAGA country" flag chanting "we want ICE" and telling a woman holding a Mexican flag: "If you love Mexico, go back to Mexico." In another clip, a group of men can be seen holding a Trump-Vance banner, before move for a truck coming through. Hundreds gathered outside Tampa's City Hall to protest on Monday, after a weekend of violent clashes between anti-ICE demonstrators and law enforcement. Police intervened during some heated moments between anti-ICE protesters and counter-protesters but there was no violence, according to Tampa broadcaster FOX13. This is a developing story - more to follow.
30 minutes ago
Election conspiracy theorist sticks by false 2020 claims in defamation trial
DENVER -- One of the nation's most prominent election conspiracy theorists, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, stuck by his false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen while testifying Monday during a defamation trial over statements he made about a former official for a leading voting equipment company. Taking the stand for the first time during the trial, Lindell denied making any statements he knew to be false about Eric Coomer, the former product strategy and security director for Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems. Among other things, Lindell accused Coomer of being 'a part of the biggest crime this world has ever seen." Lindell also distanced himself from a story told by a conservative podcaster who accused Coomer of helping to rig the 2020 election. It was discussed during a 2021 symposium Lindell hosted to discuss election fraud. Lindell said he did not know about the story before it was discussed onstage at the event and only learned about it during the trial. Coomer said his career and life have been destroyed by statements Lindell made about him and allowed to be promoted through his online media platform, Frankspeech. During sometimes rambling testimony in federal court in Denver, Lindell painted himself as the victim of 'lawfare' — when people are sued to scare them into silence. Several conservative news organizations, including Fox News, Newsmax and One America News, have settled defamation lawsuits from voting machine companies over allegations that they promoted falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election. In 2021, Newsmax also apologized to Coomer for airing false allegations against him. Nevertheless, Lindell said he hoped his trial would lead people to look at what happened in the election and get rid of electronic voting machines, which have been targeted in a web of conspiracy theories. Reviews, recounts and audits in the battleground states where Trump contested his 2020 loss all affirmed Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Trump's own attorney general at the time said there was no evidence of widespread fraud, and Trump and his allies lost dozens of court cases seeking to overturn the result. Lindell said he never accused Coomer of rigging the election, but he testified that Coomer's claims led Newsmax to block him from being able to go on air to talk about voting machines. 'You're part of the biggest coverup of the biggest crime the world has ever seen,' he said to the Coomer lawyer questioning him, Charles Cain. Lindell said he used to be worth about $60 million before he started speaking out about the 2020 election, and now he has nothing and is $10 million in debt. 'I believe what you did to me and MyPillow was criminal,' he said to Cain during questioning. Both Cain and U.S. District Judge Nina Wang had to remind Lindell several times to listen to the questions and only provide the answers to them, rather than head off on tangents. During the trial, Coomer's attorneys have tried to show how their client's life was devastated by the series of conspiracy theories about him. Lindell was comparatively late to seize on Coomer, not mentioning him until February 2021, well after his name had been circulated by other Trump partisans. Coomer said the conspiracy theories cost him his job, his mental health and the life he'd built and said Lindell's statements were the most distressing of all. He specifically pointed to a statement on May 9, 2021, when Lindell described what he believed Coomer had done as 'treason.' Asked by his attorney what he wants out of the trial, Coomer said he would like an apology, compensation and 'a chance of rehabilitating my public image.' Lindell's attorneys argued that Coomer's reputation was already in tatters by the time Lindell mentioned him — partly because of Coomer's own Facebook posts disparaging Trump, which the former Dominion employee acknowledged were 'hyperbolic' and had been a mistake. 'Your reputation was shattered long before Mr. Lindell said a word about you,' Chris Katchouroff said to Coomer. Katchouroff noted that Lindell also is known for making hyperbolic statements and that what he said about Coomer was simply the result of his sincere concern over vote-rigging in the 2020 presidential election — a claim for which there is no evidence.
