18-03-2025
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.
