National VA cuts won’t affect Oklahoma state VA office, medical centers remain unclear

This week, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to cut about 80,000 jobs. The reduction is part of the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal workforce. 

VA includes federal and state-level offices 

Veterans Affairs is made up of federal and state offices. They both operate independently, but they partner with one another to deliver benefits to veterans.  

A spokesperson with the Oklahoma Department of Veteran’s Affairs told News 9 that their services will not be affected by these cuts. ODVA said they have many open positions and are looking to hire people. Their office mainly helps veterans apply for services under the VA umbrella.   

Unclear if Oklahoma’s VA medical centers will see job cuts 

ODVA couldn’t comment specifically on the federal cuts, but they said federal dollars help pay for medical care for veterans. The VA Medical Center in OKC is listed on the federal U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. 

News 9 made multiple attempts to contact the medical center’s public affairs officials in OKC and Washington D.C. but were unable to reach anyone who could answer questions.  

VA Secretary says layoffs won’t affect healthcare benefits  

VA Secretary Doug Collins posted a video on social media clarifying the impact of the layoffs.  

“We’re going to accomplish this without making cuts to healthcare or benefits to veterans and their VA beneficiaries,” said Collins, Wednesday via X. “VA will always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned. That's a promise.” 

VA’s plan to reduce staff to pre-pandemic levels 

According to the Associated Press, top-level officials with the VA said they planned to reduce their workforce to pre-pandemic-levels under 400,000 positions.  

VA expanded under the Biden Administration 

One of the reasons the VA expanded during the Biden Administration was to provide staffing for the 2022 PACT Act. The PACT Act provides life-saving healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. The AP reported cuts would likely come from those positions. 

Opponents of VA cuts concerned about healthcare logistics  

Many opponents of these cuts have argued there is no clear understanding of how they could impact the delivery of vital healthcare services. News 9 contacted several Oklahoma lawmakers in Washington D.C. about these layoffs but did not hear back by the Thursday 10 p.m. newscast deadline.