Rep. Shomari Figures is urging the Veterans Affairs secretary to disclose a list of all VA employees in Alabama who have been laid off or put on leave due to cuts from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Figures has received reports of layoffs affecting services for veterans, including increased wait times and cancelled appointments. The VA secretary, Doug Collins, has been asked to meet with Figures by March 14 and provide the list of affected employees by March 7. Reports of staffing issues have been noted in facilities in Montgomery, Mobile, and Tuskegee.
Musk’s alleged $2 billion in contract cancellations, including cuts to services like cancer care and toxic exposure assessments, has drawn criticism from Congress. The VA has been urged to reevaluate the cuts, with no final decisions yet made. Employees have reported being laid off or placed on indefinite leave at VA facilities across the country, sparking concerns about the impact on operations and patient care.
Figures expressed his dissatisfaction with the handling of layoffs, emphasizing the need for compassion and decency in such actions. He criticized the administration’s approach to job cuts, highlighting the impact on dedicated public servants who have served for years. Figures stressed the importance of a more humane and considerate approach to workforce reductions, rather than abrupt and heartless decisions. The situation has sparked a debate over the administration’s treatment of employees and the need for a more thoughtful and empathetic approach to personnel management.
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