Sen. Ruben Gallego blocks VA nominees in battle over veteran services cuts
Pranjal Chandra | Apr 02, 2025, 19:16 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona has blocked key VA nominations due to plans to cut over 80,000 jobs. This move aims to protect veterans' services amid concerns about reduced staffing impacting healthcare quality.
In a bold move to safeguard veterans’ services, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) announced Tuesday that he would block the confirmation of key nominees to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), escalating the political standoff over the Trump administration’s plans to cut the agency’s workforce by more than 80,000 employees.
Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, declared his opposition just hours before a scheduled hearing on the nominations. His decision to stall these confirmations underscores growing Democratic resistance to former President Donald Trump’s sweeping plans to slash federal jobs, particularly within the VA, which provides crucial services to millions of veterans.
A strategic blockade
The Arizona senator’s move effectively freezes the confirmation process for three VA nominees, all of whom are military veterans. By placing a hold on these nominations, Gallego is using one of the few leverage tools available to him in the Senate. “Talking to veterans, people that I served with, as well as seeing some of what’s happening in Arizona, I decided that whatever tool I have to fix the situation, I’m going to use it,” he told the Associated Press.
His decision marks a sharp departure from the committee’s traditionally bipartisan approach, reflecting the heightened political tensions surrounding the administration’s broader federal workforce reduction efforts. The VA currently employs just under 400,000 people, and the proposed cuts would roll staffing levels back to 2019 numbers, despite the expansion of veteran healthcare benefits under the 2022 PACT Act.
Gallego’s protest follows in the footsteps of similar Senate maneuvers, such as the 2023 blockade by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who held up hundreds of military promotions to oppose Pentagon policies on abortion. While Tuberville eventually conceded under party pressure, Gallego appears determined to hold his ground, citing the direct impact on veterans’ healthcare facilities in Arizona and beyond.
Concerns over veteran healthcare
The VA’s proposed staffing cuts have sparked significant concern among lawmakers and veteran advocacy groups. While VA Secretary Doug Collins has assured that benefits will remain untouched, Gallego argues that cutting personnel will inevitably lead to longer wait times and diminished care quality.
One VA hospital in Arizona, Gallego noted, has already been instructed to reduce staff by 15%. “As someone who actually has used that VA... there’s no way they’re going to be able to cut 15% of the workforce, and it’s not going to impact veterans’ benefits,” he said.
His stance aligns with other Democratic lawmakers who argue that rolling back VA staffing levels will jeopardize the agency’s ability to handle increased caseloads, particularly for veterans suffering from burn pit exposure and other toxic-related conditions covered under the PACT Act.
Republican pushback
In response to Gallego’s actions, VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz criticized the blockade, stating that the department’s workforce inefficiencies need to be addressed. “Imagine how much better off veterans would be if lawmakers like Sen. Gallego cared as much about fixing VA as they do about protecting the department’s broken bureaucracy,” Kasperowicz said in a statement.
He pointed out that the VA’s healthcare system is on the Government Accountability Office’s high-risk list due to systemic issues in hiring, patient safety, and infrastructure needs. According to Kasperowicz, Secretary Collins’ primary goal is to make the agency more efficient rather than to undermine veterans’ services.
However, Democrats argue that the administration’s approach is a thinly veiled attempt to shrink government at the expense of those who served in uniform. “It’s one thing to streamline operations,” said one Democratic aide. “It’s another to gut the workforce when demand for services is higher than ever.”
Political implications
Gallego’s stance has set the stage for a broader political showdown over the future of veteran care in America. His move comes as other Democrats take similar actions to push back against Trump-era appointments. On the same day, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced that he would block the confirmation of Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., citing concerns about political overreach and threats to civil liberties.
While Senate Republicans have largely supported Trump’s efforts to shrink federal agencies, some may be hesitant to back sweeping VA cuts, given the political risks of appearing indifferent to veteran welfare. This divide could influence upcoming negotiations, particularly as Democrats leverage every available tool to stall the administration’s plans.
For now, Gallego remains firm in his position, insisting that any changes to the VA must prioritize the needs of veterans over bureaucratic restructuring. “We made a promise to these men and women when they served,” he said. “We can’t turn our backs on them now.”
With the Senate deadlocked and veterans’ organizations closely watching the debate, the future of the VA’s workforce—and the quality of care it provides—remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the battle over these proposed cuts is far from over.
Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, declared his opposition just hours before a scheduled hearing on the nominations. His decision to stall these confirmations underscores growing Democratic resistance to former President Donald Trump’s sweeping plans to slash federal jobs, particularly within the VA, which provides crucial services to millions of veterans.
A strategic blockade
The Arizona senator’s move effectively freezes the confirmation process for three VA nominees, all of whom are military veterans. By placing a hold on these nominations, Gallego is using one of the few leverage tools available to him in the Senate. “Talking to veterans, people that I served with, as well as seeing some of what’s happening in Arizona, I decided that whatever tool I have to fix the situation, I’m going to use it,” he told the Associated Press.
His decision marks a sharp departure from the committee’s traditionally bipartisan approach, reflecting the heightened political tensions surrounding the administration’s broader federal workforce reduction efforts. The VA currently employs just under 400,000 people, and the proposed cuts would roll staffing levels back to 2019 numbers, despite the expansion of veteran healthcare benefits under the 2022 PACT Act.
Gallego’s protest follows in the footsteps of similar Senate maneuvers, such as the 2023 blockade by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who held up hundreds of military promotions to oppose Pentagon policies on abortion. While Tuberville eventually conceded under party pressure, Gallego appears determined to hold his ground, citing the direct impact on veterans’ healthcare facilities in Arizona and beyond.
Concerns over veteran healthcare
The VA’s proposed staffing cuts have sparked significant concern among lawmakers and veteran advocacy groups. While VA Secretary Doug Collins has assured that benefits will remain untouched, Gallego argues that cutting personnel will inevitably lead to longer wait times and diminished care quality.
One VA hospital in Arizona, Gallego noted, has already been instructed to reduce staff by 15%. “As someone who actually has used that VA... there’s no way they’re going to be able to cut 15% of the workforce, and it’s not going to impact veterans’ benefits,” he said.
His stance aligns with other Democratic lawmakers who argue that rolling back VA staffing levels will jeopardize the agency’s ability to handle increased caseloads, particularly for veterans suffering from burn pit exposure and other toxic-related conditions covered under the PACT Act.
Republican pushback
In response to Gallego’s actions, VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz criticized the blockade, stating that the department’s workforce inefficiencies need to be addressed. “Imagine how much better off veterans would be if lawmakers like Sen. Gallego cared as much about fixing VA as they do about protecting the department’s broken bureaucracy,” Kasperowicz said in a statement.
He pointed out that the VA’s healthcare system is on the Government Accountability Office’s high-risk list due to systemic issues in hiring, patient safety, and infrastructure needs. According to Kasperowicz, Secretary Collins’ primary goal is to make the agency more efficient rather than to undermine veterans’ services.
However, Democrats argue that the administration’s approach is a thinly veiled attempt to shrink government at the expense of those who served in uniform. “It’s one thing to streamline operations,” said one Democratic aide. “It’s another to gut the workforce when demand for services is higher than ever.”
Political implications
Gallego’s stance has set the stage for a broader political showdown over the future of veteran care in America. His move comes as other Democrats take similar actions to push back against Trump-era appointments. On the same day, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced that he would block the confirmation of Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., citing concerns about political overreach and threats to civil liberties.
While Senate Republicans have largely supported Trump’s efforts to shrink federal agencies, some may be hesitant to back sweeping VA cuts, given the political risks of appearing indifferent to veteran welfare. This divide could influence upcoming negotiations, particularly as Democrats leverage every available tool to stall the administration’s plans.
For now, Gallego remains firm in his position, insisting that any changes to the VA must prioritize the needs of veterans over bureaucratic restructuring. “We made a promise to these men and women when they served,” he said. “We can’t turn our backs on them now.”
With the Senate deadlocked and veterans’ organizations closely watching the debate, the future of the VA’s workforce—and the quality of care it provides—remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the battle over these proposed cuts is far from over.