VA releases another 1,400 employees as FDA invites 300 back to work
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced more layoffs, once again strictly affecting probationary employees—those who have held a position for less than two years.
On Monday, the VA announced that more than 1,400 employees in “non-mission critical positions” had been released, including those in “DEI-related positions, among other roles.” The announcement comes just 11 days after the first wave of dismissals, which axed more than 1,000 jobs.
The agency said the cuts will “save” it more than $83 million per year, funds that will be redirected to “healthcare, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.”
The VA said it still has roughly 40,000 probationary employees under its banner, most of whom serve in positions that support the delivery of core services. It reiterated that no cuts have been made to benefit programs thus far.
“These and other recent personnel decisions are extraordinarily difficult, but VA is focused on allocating its resources to help as many veterans, families, caregivers and survivors as possible,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. “These moves will not hurt VA healthcare, benefits or beneficiaries. In fact, Veterans are going to notice a change for the better.”
Senior employees with probationary releases under them may request an exemption if they feel Veterans or the department will be negatively impacted, the agency added. It also teased more upcoming operational changes.
“In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping the department fulfill its core mission: providing the best possible care and benefits to veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors,” Collins said.
The cuts come a few days after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management—reportedly under the instruction of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—sent an email to all federal employees, requesting they provide information on the work they accomplished last week or risk being fired.
Response to that request has been mixed, with various heads of departments across the federal government telling employees not to respond in some cases.
FDA reinstates medical device teams
The DOGE purge may be happening a bit too quickly, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now reportedly looking to rehire recently dismissed personnel, especially those who work on testing and approving medical devices.
According to Reuters, the FDA is looking to bring back roughly 300 people, some of whom will be working to approve features of Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implants. The FDA released more than 1,000 probationary workers earlier this month, in positions ranging from food safety to drug reviews.
The outlet was unable to verify the specifics of which employees are returning.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.