Nathan Hooven, a disabled Air Force veteran who misplaced his trust in Donald Trump during the November elections, finds himself jobless within just three months of his choice. He echoes the sentiment of a deeply felt betrayal, originating from Trump’s drastic federal government downsizing which stripped him of his employment. ‘The perceived treachery is deeply rooted,’ says Hooven, a casualty of the mass dismissals from a Virginia-based veterans medical facility in February.
Hooven reflects the wounded sentiments of countless veterans who, like him, cast their vote in favor of Trump. ‘There is a potent sense of devastation that we, the ones who have borne the brunt for serving our country, are now being mercilessly discarded,’ he adds. Indeed, the rapid and extensive dismissal of federal workers post-January, when Trump assumed office, is unceremoniously displacing veterans, approximately 30% of the national federal workforce.
The cause for alarm seems far from over. Further evidence of the ongoing ploy is the Veterans Affairs Department’s impending reorganization. With veterans forming a significant employee base, the restructuring envisages the massive layoff of over 80,000 jobs within this vast organization. It’s a throat-slashing measure that promises nothing but dismay and resentment among the affected veterans.
As per numerous interviews, these patriotic servicepeople, who have liberally lent their support across party lines, view their recent employment loss as a stunning betrayal of their dedicated military service. The mode of communication only adds salt to their wounds: a simple email, pinpointing substandard job performance, which they vehemently deny, having consistently received favorable reviews in their roles.
James Stancil, a 62-year-old Army veteran who lost his job as a supply technician at a Milwaukee VA hospital, likens the bitter experience to a horrific military episode. ‘Feels like I’ve been shot then ditched from a helicopter,’ says Stancil, speaking on the shocking email he received concerning his allegedly inadequate performance, which stood in stark contrast to the positive feedback he had been receiving.
Much like Stancil, Hooven vehemently disputes the stated performance reasons put forth as grounds for his termination. Despite laudatory feedback during his 11-month tenure as a probationary employee, he was blindsided by the abrupt dismissal. ‘It’s an unjustified conviction on allegations of being a low-performing employee.’
Stancil is of the firm belief that Trump should apologize to the veterans unfairly ousted from service. The justifications proffered by Alina Habba, defending the redundancies among these veterans and federal workers, fail to instill any sense of conviction or justice in the matter.
Cynthia Williams, an army veteran, shares a similar fate having lost her job as a dispatcher at an Ann Arbor,MI based VA. Despite her impartial stance during the elections, she speculates that her fellow veterans endorsing Trump would have reconsidered their decision had they foreseen this grim outcome.
Williams echoes the blindsided sentiment. Trump’s rallying cry of making America great again seemed like a hollow promise. ‘Contrary to bringing about resurgence, this move is pushing us further into an abyss,’ she comments.
Matthew Sims, another army veteran, found himself jobless last month from his position as a program support assistant at a Salem, VA, mental health clinic. His faith in Trump and downsizing the federal government remains unshaken, but he challenges the brash approach of this particular implementation.
Sims describes the method as a knee-jerk reaction rather than the precise surgical strike it should be. ‘The current approach is like a chainsaw massacre, opting for mass wipe-out rather than a strategic thinning of the workforce,’ he says
Jared Evans, a recreation therapist at the Salem VA, was in his eighth month as a probationary worker when he was axed in February. Evans lamented the irony of being commended by a patient for his outstanding service just as he received his termination email.
Now jobless, Evans, a 36-year-old army veteran, was the sole breadwinner for his family. His winding journey from California, along with his wife and two young children in tow, for this long-desired job seems like a mirage. His sentiments oscillate between fear, numbness and anger.
Evans confesses that receiving the news of his firing made him cry, something he hadn’t done in a while. Being transplanted into unfamiliar territory, having his security yanked away without notice, and feeling cast aside, it seems like an inescapable free fall. He is in the unenviable position of being left to fend for himself and his family with no adequate time for preparation.
The outcry of these veterans, their deep sense of betrayal and the harsh realities borne of Trump’s federal downsizing poses unsettling questions. The priority given to political agenda over honoring these veterans’ committed service is a growing concern. Navigating this unchartered territory, with no lifelines in sight, paints a bleak picture for America’s bravest.