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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is standing strong against critics who claim his department’s job cuts will hurt veterans. He says slashing 72,000 positions is about cutting wasteful bureaucracy, not reducing care. Collins promised no frontline medical staff or benefits processors will lose jobs. Instead, he’s targeting bloated management and back-office waste. “We’re putting every dollar where it belongs—back with our veterans,” he declared.
The Trump administration’s partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is key to these reforms. Collins says teams are reviewing contracts and office budgets to root out inefficiencies. A leaked memo shows the VA plans to return to 2019 staffing levels, trimming positions added during Biden-era hiring sprees. Critics call it cruel, but Collins insists it’s about respecting taxpayer money while still expanding services.
Despite the layoffs, the VA’s budget actually grew by $32.9 billion this year. Collins argues this proves the cuts aren’t about saving money but spending smarter. Funds once wasted on redundant paperwork or overpriced supplies now flow to suicide prevention programs and faster disability claims processing. “More cash for vets, less for D.C. desk jockeys,” one supporter tweeted.
Liberal media outlets like CNN tried to ambush Collins over unrelated scandals, but he flipped the script. When asked about leaked Signal chats, he shot back: “Why is CNN hostile to veterans?” He cited their $5 million defamation loss to a Navy vet and accused them of ignoring real issues. Conservatives cheered him for exposing media bias against Trump’s America First policies.
The secretary stressed that no doctors, nurses, or benefits counselors face layoffs. Cuts focus on administrative roles, contractors, and non-essential staff. He also ended VA-funded gender-transition surgeries, calling them a distraction from core missions. Those millions now buy prosthetics and cover TBI research. “Veterans shouldn’t pay for political experiments,” said a House GOP leader.
Democrats like Sen. Patty Murray claim the cuts will “devastate veterans,” but Collins says they’re fearmongering. Wait times dropped 12% last month, and benefit approvals hit record speeds. The VA’s partnership with private clinics under the MISSION Act lets veterans skip backlogged hospitals. “They hate that vets have choices now,” a Trump advisor told NEWSMAX.
Some veterans worry, but Collins urges trust. He’s expanding toxic-exposure care under the PACT Act while modernizing ancient computer systems. A Georgia Legion post commander said, “The VA finally acts like we matter.” Protests from federal unions and coastal elites, Collins argues, prove he’s draining the swamp.
“Promises made, promises kept,” Collins tweeted after saving $4 billion in first-month audits. He’s vowed no benefit reductions—only trimming fat. With VA scandals fading and efficiency rising, supporters say Collins is proving government can work when led by common-sense conservatives.
