VA Firings Include Suicide Hotline Workers, Sparking Outrage from Lawmakers

As part of a larger government workforce reduction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) laid off an unknown number of employees, including those working at the Veterans Crisis Line. The cuts, which affected more than 2% of the VA's probationary personnel, drew criticism from politicians, veterans, and advocacy organizations.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) verified that at least two crisis line employees were informed they would be restored when she intervened, but they had not recovered access to their work accounts by Wednesday afternoon.

"These folks, because they had a vital job function, should never have been laid off," Duckworth says.

A hotline worker, who had worked for the federal government for nine years before moving to the crisis line, was sacked just 12 days before her probationary period ended. She described the news as "devastating" and claimed that even leadership was unaware of the abrupt dismissals.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) expressed worry that the changes directly impacted veteran treatment, noting operating room closures, ICU reductions, and cuts to inpatient mental health services. A Norfolk, Virginia, veteran stated that her mammography appointment had been canceled owing to staffing shortages caused by cutbacks.

VA Secretary Doug Collins justified the decision, claiming it would save $98 million, which would be spent on veterans' care. Blumenthal has committed to pushing for an appeals procedure for sacked employees, pointing out that Collins now controls both the Office of Special Counsel and the Office of Government Ethics, posing conflict of interest concerns.

As the pushback develops, veterans, lawmakers, and advocates ask whether cost-cutting tactics are causing more harm than benefit.

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