Nathan Hooven, a disabled armed forces veteran and a casualty of Donald Trump’s drastic federal employment cuts, laments a sense of betrayal by the administration he supported in the November elections. ‘I think countless other veterans feel the same deep sense of disappointment,’ states Hooven, who lost his job at a veteran medical center in Virginia during February. He condemns the uncompassionate downsizing that is shattering numerous lives of those who’ve had pledged their service, and made significant sacrifices for the nation.
The reigning administration has seen an enormous reduction in the federal workforce since the beginning of their term in January, resulting in a particularly distressing impact on the veterans. Veterans constitute about 30% of the entire federal workforce, and their sudden and vast unemployment due to the administration’s policies is nothing short of a stab in the back. House Democrats conjecture the number of dismissed veterans may reach thousands, with more casualties to follow.
The Veterans Affairs Department, a vital employer for veterans and alleged orchestrator of American betrayal, has revealed a restructuring plan involving slashing over 80,000 jobs. Over 25% of the VA’s workforce is composed of veterans, demonstrating the magnitude of damage these tactics could cause. Individuals who’ve given their all for country are suddenly finding themselves jobless, disgruntled and betrayed by the system they once swore to protect.
Conversations with various veterans revealed their shared bitterness and sense of betrayal. Many among them cast their vote in the previous elections based on party lines. However, their recent experiences of job termination came as a shock, the humiliation amplified by the dismissive reason of ‘ineffective job performance’ in their termination emails, a reason they refute saying they had previously received excellent reviews while in service.
James Stancil, a 62-year-old Army veteran, describes his recent firing from his supply technician post at a VA hospital in Milwaukee as a disastrous helicopter crash. ‘Just like being suddenly pushed out of a helicopter and hitting the ground remorselessly,’ he stated in disbelief. Stancil was a Kamala Harris supporter which given the current administration, might not be the best decision of his life.
Stancil was taken aback by the email which informed him that his performance was subpar which was quite contrary to the positive feedback he continued to receive prior to this news. Hooven had a similar experience; despite continuous positive feedback for his 11-month tenure as a probationary employee, his employment was abruptly terminated citing his performance. Hooven is crestfallen, as he could see no reason coming that could lead to his firing.
‘The termination notice has hit me like a thunderbolt, turning my life upside down without any chance of preparation. It’s a dishonest claim that I was a lesser performer,’ Hooven shared. This raises questions on the arbitrary claims of the administration on performance grounds while dismissing veterans from their jobs.
Stancil believes that an apology from Trump to the fired veterans is in order. It is noteworthy that a former member of Trump’s legal team, now serving as a counselor in the White House, upheld the dismissals under the banner of ‘fiscal responsibility’. The emphasis is seemingly on utilizing taxpayer money to pay those who ‘work’, and the dismissals suggesting that veterans might not be fit or willing to slog it out.
The mystery of the veterans’ job losses intensifies when considering how likely they were to back Trump over Harris in the presidential elections. While nearly 60% of veterans voted for Trump, only around 40% cast their vote for Harris.
Cynthia Williams, an Army veteran, and previous dispatcher at a VA in Michigan, vented her frustration and regret towards the current administration. While she didn’t support either choice during the elections, she deems the present scenario unforeseen and reprehensible. She commented, ‘He claimed to make the country great again… but this is not a picture of greatness.’
Matthew Sims, another Army veteran, was let go from his position as a program support assistant at a mental health clinic at a VA in Virginia after relocating from Texas for this position. Even though he cast his ballot for Trump and supports the ideal of reducing the federal government’s size, he condemns the way the administration is going about it.
Sims points out the hard-hitting, indiscriminate nature of the administration’s policies, comparing it to a dangerous, unfocused ‘chainsaw approach’ as opposed to a targeted and efficient ‘surgical approach’. It seems Sims also feels the disappointment that comes with the collapsing of dreams once promised by this administration.
Jared Evans shared his disdain when talking about his sudden termination from his job as a recreation therapist at the Salem VA during his eighth month as a probationary worker. He disclosed how a patient had expressed gratitude for his work just before he received his dismissal notice. Evans, whose family solely depended on his income, expressed feelings of fear, anger, and numbness.
The experience indeed was a hard blow for Evans. ‘I was brought to tears,’ Evans confessed, speaking about his reaction after hearing about his firing. He reflects his feelings of being adrift in unfamiliar surroundings without any support, being left feeling helpless and abandoned.
From these accounts, it becomes abundantly clear that the administration’s federal downsizing policies are leaving our nation’s finest in a state of abrupt shock and helplessness. While their bravado and stoicism can be counted on, the palpable feelings of betrayal, discarding, and desolation are precisely the kind of gratitude they didn’t sign up for when they signed up to serve our nation.