Democratic senators want answers about Veterans Affairs dismissals

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said she is seeking answers about how last week’s layoffs of more than 1,000 probationary employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs affected efforts to prevent suicide through the confidential Veterans Crisis Line.

In a call with journalists, the Illinois Democrat said her staff heard from VA employees who worked for the crisis line or supported the VA claims process. She said two from Illinois may have been reinstated after she intervened, “but they’re still locked out of their portal, so I don’t know if they actually have been rehired.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined Duckworth on the call. He said he regrets voting to confirm Doug Collins as VA secretary because the workforce reductions are hurting veterans.

The VA did not offer a new statement Wednesday.

• Print
• Tweet