Latest news with #ProtectVeteranJobsAct
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Duckworth announces legislation protecting VA jobs
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said Wednesday she is introducing two bills aimed at protecting jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), amid broad efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the agency's workforce. The first piece of legislation is the Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act, which would require VA Secretary Doug Collins to report to Congress before making any cuts to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The bill comes after numerous VCL workers were terminated in error earlier this year, but many were rehired following significant backlash to the move. 'VA Secretary Collins may promise to rehire VCL workers he wrongfully fired, but here's the bottom line: He should be transparent with Congress,' Duckworth, a combat veteran, wrote in a post on social platform X, announcing the legislation. The post follows testimony earlier Wednesday, when she pressed Collins on the 'lack of transparency' surrounding the firings at the mental health crisis hotline for veterans. 'The firing of these mission-critical employees was shrouded in a lack of transparency that cannot be tolerated,' Duckworth said in a statement after the hearing. 'If Secretary Collins wants to make cuts to the Veterans Crisis Line, he should report them to Congress so we can ensure these cuts won't weaken the VCL's mission. The lives of our Veterans in crisis depend on this lifeline—and I'll keep pushing to defend it,' she continued. Duckworth also announced Wednesday she is reintroducing the VA Employee Fairness Act, which would restore collective bargaining rights to VA health care workers, 'so they can speak out freely against any problems they're facing at the VA.' 'This Admin cannot continue to slash and burn the VA in the dark,' Duckworth wrote in a post on X. The move comes as the VA confirmed plans to cut tens of thousands of employees in the coming months amid an effort to restructure the agency and drastically reduce the size of the workforce. Duckworth last month introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate thousands of veterans who were fired amid Trump administration cuts at the VA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Hill
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Duckworth announces legislation protecting VA jobs
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on Wednesday said she is introducing two bills aimed at protecting jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, amid broad efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the agency's workforce. The first piece of legislation is 'The Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act,' which would require VA Secretary Doug Collins to report to Congress before making any cuts to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The bill comes after numerous VCL workers were terminated in error earlier this year, but many were rehired following significant backlash to the move. 'VA Secretary Collins may promise to rehire VCL workers he wrongfully fired, but here's the bottom line: He should be transparent with Congress,' Duckworth, a combat veteran, wrote in a post on X, announcing the legislation. The post follows testimony earlier Wednesday, when she pressed Collins on the 'lack of transparency' surrounding the firings at the mental health crisis hotline for veterans. 'The firing of these mission-critical employees was shrouded in a lack of transparency that cannot be tolerated,' Duckworth said in a statement after the hearing. 'If Secretary Collins wants to make cuts to the Veterans Crisis Line, he should report them to Congress so we can ensure these cuts won't weaken the VCL's mission. The lives of our Veterans in crisis depend on this lifeline—and I'll keep pushing to defend it,' she continued. Duckworth also announced Wednesday she is reintroducing the 'VA Employee Fairness Act,' which would restore collective bargaining rights to VA health care workers, 'so they can speak out freely against any problems they're facing at the VA.' 'This Admin cannot continue to slash and burn the VA in the dark,' Duckworth wrote in a post on X. The move comes as the VA confirmed plans to cut tens of thousands of employees in the coming months amid an effort to restructure the agency and drastically reduce the size of the workforce. Duckworth last month introduced legislation, 'Protect Veteran Jobs Act,' to reinstate thousands of veterans who were fired amid Trump administration cuts at the VA.
Axios
18-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
How White House firings could hit San Antonio veterans
The Trump administration's big cuts to the federal government are hitting one group particularly hard — the country's veterans, who are integral to San Antonio. Why it matters: Many of those who've served in the military derive a sense of purpose and belonging from their government work — viewing it as a way to serve their country and help their peers outside of active duty. The latest: Workforce Solutions Alamo announced Monday it will, along with the San Antonio Food Bank, host a hiring event for federal employees who have lost jobs. "San Antonio residents for decades and decades, sometimes lifetimes, rely on a federal paycheck, because they have chosen a life of service," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Monday. "Many of them are veterans in this community." The big picture: It's not yet clear how many military vets have been or will be fired. Last year, veterans made up 28% of the federal workforce nationwide, per federal data — a far bigger share than the 5% of the overall U.S. labor force. By the numbers: In San Antonio-area congressional districts, veterans make up a sizable share of civilian federal employment, per new data from the Economic Policy Institute. In Texas' 23rd Congressional District, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, about 7,500 veterans account for about 48% of the federal workforce. In the 20th Congressional District, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, it's about 44%. The federal workforce is about 42% veterans in the 21st Congressional District, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy. State of play: Veterans are intrinsically tied to San Antonio. Known as Military City USA, we're home to Joint Base San Antonio, made up of four main installations — Army post Fort Sam Houston, Army training site Camp Bullis, and two Air Force bases. It's the largest and most diverse joint base in the Department of Defense. Nationally, about 51% of Air Force employees are veterans, as are 49% of Army employees, per the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. What they're saying:"This is the largest attack on veteran employment in our lifetime," says William Attig, executive director at the Union Veterans Council, a labor group that represents many of these workers. Zoom in: Castro has supported the Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were terminated from federal jobs. "For decades, the federal government has been one of the largest employers of American veterans, many of whom go on to work at the VA and serve their fellow veterans," Castro said in a statement. "When you attack federal employees — when you indiscriminately fire the federal workforce — you are disproportionately harming veterans," he added. Reality check: Republicans hold majorities in both the Senate and the House, so this Democrat-sponsored bill would need bipartisan support, pitting the GOP against President Trump. The bill may be political posturing to allow Democrats to paint their political rivals as anti-veteran, because bipartisan support is unlikely. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is planning to cut more than 80,000 jobs in a reorganization of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the AP reported. The agency provides health care and other services for millions of veterans. About 25% of the VA's staff are veterans, per the OPM data. Between the lines: Privately, GOP lawmakers are growing uneasy with cuts that impact veterans, Politico reported, adding that vets have been "disproportionately affected" by the firings.
Axios
12-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduces bill to rehire fired veterans
As the Trump administration continues its efforts to downsize the federal government with massive staffing cuts, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is fighting back for veterans. Why it matters: Veterans make up more than 30% of the federal workforce. Illinois is home to 20,900 civilian federal employees who are veterans, spouses of veterans, or spouses of active military personnel, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. The latest: Duckworth has co-authored a bill called the "Protect Veteran Jobs Act," which would rehire veterans fired as part of the recent DOGE cuts. Duckworth says at least 6,000 vets have been terminated since President Trump took office in January. A new internal memo at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outlines plans to cut more than 80,000 employees, many of them vets. What they're saying: "Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fired more veterans than any administration in our nation's history," Duckworth said in a statement. "It is a stunningly cruel betrayal of the men and women who bravely answered the call to serve our country in uniform." Context: Duckworth, who serves on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has become the Democratic leader on veteran issues. Before her time in the Senate, Duckworth was the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. The former pilot served in the Iraq War, losing her legs and partial use of her arm when her Blackhawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004. Between the lines: The Republicans hold majorities in both the Senate and the House, so this Democrat-sponsored bill would need bipartisan support, pitting the GOP against Trump. Reality check: The bill may be political posturing to allow Democrats to paint their political rivals as anti-veteran, because bipartisan support is unlikely. Illinois Rep. Mike Bost (R-12th) chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and defended the proposed cuts, but only if benefits for vets were improved. "I know President Trump shares my desire to provide veterans and their families with the best possible services for the best dollar," Bost said in a statement. "When we're talking about downsizing a federal bureaucracy that's grown too large, we need to make sure the end goal is streamlining access without sacrificing benefits and quality of care." VA Secretary Doug Collins says the cuts are designed to reform the VA's bureaucracy and will not impact veterans' benefits and care. Yes, but: Republicans have also said they want to introduce legislation protecting veterans in the federal workforce but stopped short of offering to rehire them all. "The goal ought not be a number," Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chair Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said in a hearing Tuesday. Zoom in: In Chicago, Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) said the VA in Chicago has already paused regular outreach programs in his ward, which were designed to help vets get answers about their benefits. "Veterans served their country. And they didn't turn their back on us," O'Shea said to the Tribune. "Now, the government is turning their back on veterans. What message does it send?" What's next: The planned mass layoffs at the VA could happen by June.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kaine pushes bill to reverse veteran layoffs, slams Trump's federal workforce policies
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., talks to reporters after voting in Richmond. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is one of three Democratic lawmakers spearheading a legislative effort to reinstate thousands of veterans who were fired from federal jobs as part of President Donald Trump administration's mass layoffs of government employees. Kaine, whose home state of Virginia has one of the highest populations of veterans in the country, introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act alongside U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Andy Kim, D-NJ, in an effort to reverse what they called an indiscriminate and unfair dismissal of those who have served. The proposal comes in response to layoffs through billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that disproportionately affected veterans, who make up nearly 30% of the federal workforce. According to federal data compiled by Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, DOGE has fired more than 6,000 veterans from federal positions. 'President Trump has fired more veterans in his first few weeks in office than any U.S. President. This is unacceptable,' Kaine said in a statement. 'These men and women have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, and now they are being kicked to the curb by a president who has previously called service members and veterans losers and suckers.' Kaine has been one of the most vocal critics of Trump's federal workforce policies, particularly those affecting veterans. Last week, he invited Fairfax resident Jason King, a disabled veteran fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration's safety division, as his guest to Trump's joint address to Congress to highlight the issue. The Protect Veteran Jobs Act seeks to reinstate veterans who lost their jobs in these layoffs, ensuring they regain access to stable employment and benefits. Additionally, it mandates the White House submit a quarterly report to Congress detailing the number of veterans removed from the federal workforce and providing justifications for their dismissals. The legislation has gained the support of several Senate Democrats, including Dick Durbin, Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., Mark Kelly, D-Az., Amy Klobuchar, D-Mn., and Cory Booker, D-NJ, among others. In the House, a companion bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Derek Tran, D-Ca. Co-sponsor Duckworth, a combat veteran, has also strongly condemned the firings, saying that veterans deserve opportunities to transition into the civilian workforce without fear of politically motivated dismissals. Several advocacy groups have also lined up behind the bill. VoteVets, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AMVETS, the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have all endorsed the legislation, calling the mass dismissals an injustice to those who have served. 'Firing veterans who perform essential duties isn't government efficiency, it's cruel,' VoteVets said in a statement. 'Service members deserve opportunities to transition back into the workforce and should be guaranteed support — not the added stress of unemployment.' Virginia, home to the Pentagon, multiple military bases, and one of the largest veteran populations in the country, has been particularly affected by the federal layoffs. Many veterans in the state take on federal civilian jobs as a continuation of their public service, making job security in the sector a critical issue for Virginia's economy. The AFGE, which represents federal workers, blasted the mass firings and called for urgent action. 'We should be celebrating Americans willing to wear a second uniform in service to their country. Instead, they are being treated to insults, chaos, and pink slips,' AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement. With strong backing from veterans' organizations and Democratic lawmakers, the legislation now faces the challenge of gaining bipartisan support in a divided Congress. Its fate will likely depend on whether Kaine and his co-sponsors can convince Republican colleagues that reinstating these veterans is a necessary step in honoring their service and stabilizing the federal workforce. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
