ST. LOUIS – Multiple sources tell FOX 2 News that VA employees in the area are getting another offer to resign or retire as the Department of Veterans Affairs looks to cut tens of thousands of jobs.
“This time in history is scary for everybody; not only veterans but for regular civilians as well,” veteran Bob Braun, past commander at the American Legion Post 400, said.
Braun is paying close attention to find out how benefits could be impacted.
“If you were to lose some of the benefits, they talk about cutting back on VA hospitals and things like that, there’s a lot of people who can’t afford their own insurance and they rely on the Veterans Administration to do that,” he said.
The nerves are rising after the VA sent out a memo in March outlining a goal to reduce staff to 2019 levels. That would mean a reduction of about 80,000 positions.
“It’s a shame that people serve their country, they come home and then they don’t get respect. They don’t get help from anybody,” Braun said.
According to the memo, the reduction in the workforce is coming by the end of the fiscal year.