The Trump administration, in partnership with Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has reportedly laid off nearly 6,000 veterans this year. This comes after aggressive cost-cutting measures implemented by Musk and his team.
Why Were Veterans Fired?
Rosa DeLauro and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic Congresswomen, strongly criticized the layoffs. They described them as a “reckless attack” on veterans, who have served the nation.
“Our veterans sacrificed so much for this country, but Trump and Musk clearly don’t value their service,” said DeLauro. “Veterans are crucial to the federal workforce, and Republicans have turned their backs on them.”
Musk’s Cost-Cutting Agenda
Under Musk’s leadership, the Department of Government Efficiency has eliminated many federal jobs to cut costs. This includes shutting down agencies like USAID, putting 10,000 workers on unpaid leave, and threatening the Department of Education.
Affected Veterans and Agencies
The layoffs affected several key departments:
- 2,400 workers in the Department of Veterans Affairs, with 1,000 dismissed on February 13.
- 2,000 workers in the Department of Energy, including some from the National Nuclear Security Administration.
- 400 workers in the Department of Homeland Security, many with FEMA.
Personal Accounts from Veterans
One laid-off veteran, Andrew Lennox, a former Marine Corps member, expressed his shock. Lennox served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria for ten years before joining the Department of Veterans Affairs.
He said, “I thought veterans were safe. I never expected to lose my job like this.” He finds it hard to understand why such cuts are happening to those who served the country.
The Ukraine Controversy
These layoffs came just days after Trump’s controversial comments about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Trump called him a “dictator without elections”, sparking global backlash. However, despite tensions, the two leaders reached an agreement on Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Key Details of the Ukraine Deal
- Ukraine will invest 50% of its resource income into a special development fund.
- The U.S. will gain exclusive access to critical minerals for its military and tech sectors.
Trump confirmed the agreement will be signed in Washington at the end of the week.
Trump’s Defense of the Layoffs
The Trump administration defended the layoffs as part of a larger plan to increase government efficiency. However, Debbie Wasserman Schultz warned that these cuts could lead to even more job losses for veterans.
“This attack on veterans is unjustified. Trump and Musk are turning their backs on the people who fought for America,” Schultz stated.
The Impact on Veterans
Veterans make up about 30% of the 2.3 million federal employees. If Musk’s cost-cutting plan continues, hundreds of thousands of veterans could be affected.
The White House has yet to comment on these reports, leaving many questions unanswered.
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