On March 8, 2025, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #63 (Clermont County) was contacted by DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director Randy Reese. He released two (2) statements concerning the situation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

First, the Washington DAV Headquarters has been contacted by telephone calls, comments and emails regarding the recent federal workforce cuts and the DAV shares your concern. Over thirty (30%) percent of the 470,000 VA workforce are veterans.

If you, or someone you know has been impacted by the workforce cuts at the VA, the DAV wants to tell your story:

– Disabled veterans or spouses who recently lost federal job

– Service-disabled veteran-owned business owners who lost contracts

– Veterans who encounter shortfalls at the VA attributed to reductions in staffing

If you or somebody you know falls into one of these categories, please visit https://www.dav.org/defend-veteran-jobs/ to share your story with DAV.

“As of March 8, leaders at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have yet to reach out to DAV for any insight on how proposed staffing reductions would affect the health care and benefits America’s veterans have earned through their service to our nation.”

“Learning of the newest proposal to arbitrarily eliminate 80,000 VA employees on the heels of the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in generations—the PACT Act—is incredibly concerning, and our members have voiced their frustrations at the lack of transparency of these plans.”

“We look forward to learning more specifics directly from VA leaders about how these layoffs would impact the timely delivery of world-class health care and benefits, and we hope our counsel is heard to ensure the department remains accountable to those whom it is meant to serve.”

On February 23, 2025, VA Secretary Doug Collins told over 400 members of the DAV that he wanted us to remember three (3) things about him and his VA Administration,” said DAV Chapter #63 Adjutant John Plahovinsak.

“First, Veterans First. Second, No Compromises. Third, Period,” these were the three (3) things he told the DAV members and members of the American Legion two (2) days later,” stated Adjutant Plahovinsak.

“VA employees that are in one of the three (3) categories cited in the above paragraphs should contact the DAV immediately to share their stories at: https://www.dav.org/defend-veteran-jobs/ ,” concluded Plahovinsak.

Editor’s note: The headline for this submission was edited by the editor of The Clermont Sun.