“The Very Agency Responsible for Caring for Veterans Is Now Discarding Its Own Disabled Veteran Employees”
This is the first installment of a new series – Sacrificed for ‘Savings’ … in which we are showcasing the true impact of the Trump-Musk purge of federal employees, by allowing those affected to tell their stories in their own words. We don’t question the need to evaluate agencies and cut where cutting makes sense. However, what’s clear is that very little thought is being given to the consequences of the cuts being made, which does not serve our country well, nor those that have served our country. Raphael Garcia has served with honor, only to be dismissed. Here he is … in his own words:
My name is Raphael Garcia. I’m a 100% disabled Army Veteran who has been connected to the VA for many years. Today, that’s no longer true, and that’s not by choice.
Before I joined active duty in the U.S. Army in November of 2016, I spent much of 2016 volunteering at the Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri, logging around 1,155 volunteer hours in their Physical Therapy Department over a nine-month period. I assisted physical therapists by transporting patients to their appointments, picking up prosthetics, coordinating with occupational therapy, and learning about the daily treatment procedures and medical equipment. Those nine months of volunteer work reaffirmed my desire to support fellow Veterans in any way I could (as I am also the son of a Navy Veteran who served 23 years in both active duty and active reserve), which is why I later chose to work for the VA in a professional capacity upon separating from active duty in April of 2024 due to a plethora of my physical and mental injuries.
I’ve always believed in the mission of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — to serve those who have served. But today, along with thousands of others, including over 200,000+ federal employees, facing termination … not because of performance, but due to sweeping workforce reductions.
The abrupt nature of my dismissal—especially given my disability status—was both shocking and disheartening. I’m still processing the impact this will have on my livelihood, and I’m worried about the ripple effects it may have on the VA’s ability to serve other disabled Veterans who depend on these essential services.
READ MORE FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNTS FROM CIVIL SERVANTS FIRED BY DOGE
These cuts are not about efficiency. They are about dismantling the very government systems meant to support the public to include Veterans. This week, an entire wave of employees at my regional office, many in critical roles, were abruptly let go with less than a day’s notice.
I rarely speak about my own disability, but the irony is painful, as the very agency responsible for caring for Veterans is now discarding its own disabled Veteran employees. In my case, this is despite two outstanding performance evaluations, balancing multiple hats and staff shortages, working outside of my tour of duty without compensation, and an established record of going above and beyond to support the mission.
The termination of these employees will have severe consequences: Thousands of Veterans awaiting benefits will now experience longer wait times, as key positions managing claims processing remain vacant. The VA already struggles with claims delays, and these cuts will only worsen processing times. Many of us covered multiple roles due to chronic understaffing, and our departure leaves gaps in critical services that cannot simply be filled overnight. The VA’s promise to “care for those who have borne the battle” rings hollow when it cuts the very workforce responsible for ensuring Veterans receive their benefits.
And this doesn’t even include the thousands of federal employees who accepted the Deferred Resignation Program (many of whom aren’t even getting compensated and were let go regardless of the offer acceptance), leaving massive gaps with no staffing backfills. This isn’t about efficiency — it’s about dismantling the system. Some will argue that these cuts are about “streamlining” government. But let’s be clear — removing employees who are actively processing Veteran disability claims, overseeing compliance, managing system access, and handling policy implementation is not about efficiency. It is about weakening essential services to benefit the wealthy, leaving Veterans short of the services they deserve.
I have worked countless of unpaid hours, sacrificed my own medical appointments, and absorbed additional workloads just to keep the system running — not because it was required, but because I know what’s at stake for Veterans who rely on these benefits. Yet, instead of support, I was given a termination notice. These workforce reductions are not just numbers — they are real people who have dedicated themselves to ensuring we serve the public.
To say the least, this experience has been jarring and heartbreaking, both personally and for all the other Veterans who now face mounting delays in their claims. I genuinely believe that talking about these experiences—how they contradict the VA’s promise to care for those who served—can help protect others and reinforce the mission we all care about.
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4 Comments
This action makes me so ashamed to call myself an American. For what? So some selfish billionaires can finance a 4 trillion dollar tax cut they don’t need or deserve! The dismantling of our government will be our downfall. I guess it kills two birds with one stone. Separating us all further from the wealthy and powerful, and discouraging immigration, by turning us into a country nobody wants to visit, let alone live.
I as the mother of 100% service connected veteran do not believe in 100% service connected veteran which means you are disabled 100% should not be working and collecting a paycheck from our government besides the over $3000 a month that you already get I’m glad they’re cutting back and maybe the care in the hospitals will be made up for by the cuts, they’re making .. just like the public relations girl up above these articles saying how she got let go and there’s nobody else in public relations. That’s a lie. Every hospital has more than one public relations person.
and maybe the claims will even go through faster because people will make sure their jobs are being done efficiently and in a timely manner
It’s funny the Buffalo VA Hospital has the worst care out of most of them. The food is horrendous. They get fed better in prison than they do there. The floors are loaded with cockroaches and that’s how our veterans have to be taken care of in the hospital. It’s sickening.
Thank you for your service! Sadly you voted for someone who comes from a line of draft dodgers, who doesn’t care about veterans. And who hates people with disabilities and people of color.
Would you vote for him again? Unfortunately , I believe you would in a heartbeat.