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
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