HUNTINGTON Ƶ The Department of Veterans Affairs last month it dismissed more than 1,000 employees nationwide.
According to a statement released by the VA, the move allowed it to Ƶredirect over $98 million annually to health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.Ƶ
John Ingersoll, executive assistant to the medical center director at the Hershel ƵWoodyƵ Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, said in an email that the center dismissed a Ƶsmall number of probationary staff.Ƶ
ƵThis decision will have no negative effect on Veteran health care, benefits, or other services and will allow VA to focus more effectively on its core mission of serving Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors. We cannot discuss specific personnel matters due to privacy concerns,Ƶ he wrote.
When asked if he could clarify exactly how many employees were dismissed, what positions they were in, or if their dismissal was directly related to the message sent out by the VA, Ingersoll said, ƵWe have no further information to add at this time.Ƶ
A similar situation has unfolded at the Beckley VA Medical Center.
ƵA small number of staff was dismissed from the VA Medical Center in late February,Ƶ the center said. ƵThis decision will have no negative effect on veteransƵ healthcare benefits or other service. The VA will continue to focus on its core missions of serving veterans, families, caregivers and survivors. The agency cannot discuss specific personnel matters due to privacy requirements.Ƶ
Nationally, the VA identified the types of employees who were dismissed as Ƶnon-bargaining unit probationary employeesƵ who served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or less than two years in an excepted service appointment.
The dismissals were part of a Ƶgovernment-wide Trump Administration effort to make agencies more efficient, effective and responsive to the American People,Ƶ the federal department said in its statement.
ƵWhile I understand the concerns that some have regarding the administrationƵs efforts to look for areas where we can cut waste, fraud, and abuse, itƵs just as important that we have a right-size government,Ƶ Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in an email responding to inquiries about the cuts.
ƵMy focus has and continues to be protecting our West Virginia workforce and I will monitor the DOGE efforts closely, as I have been, to fully understand the impacts and to make sure these are being conducted fairly.Ƶ
A similar inquiry was sent to the office of Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., but no response was received by press time Tuesday.
The Ƶsociated Press last month the Office of Personnel ManagementƵs data showed 220,000 federal employees had less than a year on the job, meaning they could be subject to potential probationary-employee layoffs as part of a decision by President Donald TrumpƵs administration.
The VA said there are currently more than 43,000 probationary employees within its system, although most are exempt because they serve in Ƶmission-critical positionsƵ or are covered under a collective bargaining agreement.
But the AP reported Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the probationary employees dismissed from the VA included Ƶresearchers working on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics and burn pit exposure.Ƶ
The VA said it would be announcing plans to use the ƵresourcesƵ saved by dismissing employees in the Ƶcoming weeks and months.Ƶ
ƵTo be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries,Ƶ VA Secretary Doug Collins said.
