NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Veterans Affairs employees across the country have been met with confusion over recent federal funding cuts. Many are now questioning their future with the department. On Wednesday, New Mexico Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich sat down with impacted residents who say they have nowhere to go. “I’m just trying to make sense of all this,” said Sen. Heinrich.
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Senator Martin Heinrich spoke with leaders and workers at the Veterans Integration Center to learn more about how VA employees are navigating recent federal funding cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency.
“Unfortunately, I sat down at my computer, and I was locked out with an email saying I was terminated,” said a VA employee and veteran, who does not wish to be named.
The VA veteran employee said the email read, “The Department of Veteran Affairs has decided to take action against your poor performance, and because you’re a probationary employee, it’s termination immediately effective.”
And Brock Wolff, CEO of the New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers, was met with fear after receiving this message.“We got notice that our grant was cancelled, and then later that afternoon, it wasn’t cancelled. That’s terrifying. We’re funded by that,” said Wolff.
Sen. Heinrich expressed concern over VA Secretary Doug Collins throwing out the possibility of letting go of 80,000 employees, questioning if the department would be able to survive the loss.
“Cause right now, we’re afraid to tell our story for repercussions,” said the Veteran VA employee.
“The irony of someone like yourself who served saying, I don’t feel like I can exercise my free speech…that’s upside down,” Sen. Heinrich responded.
The employee said federal cuts are also impacting vital resources. “I do get 100 percent of my services at the VA. And I’m noticing that my appointments are going out further and further. So instead of two or three weeks, it’s two or three months,” said the Veteran VA employee.
After being fired via email, then rehired, he made the decision to keep doing the work, saying, “I decided to go back just because of the way I feel that I need to still serve my nation.”
Senator Heinrich’s team read a letter during the discussion sent to Secretary Collins Tuesday night, expressing concerns over unclear communication from the administration. Heinrich’s team said this is his sixth attempt to contact the secretary.