Veterans across the United States are voicing fury over mass layoffs orchestrated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has slashed thousands of federal jobs, including those of former service members who dedicated their lives to the nation.
The cuts, part of a broader austerity push, have blindsided veterans like Katherine Hathaway, an Army veteran and federal emergency management worker, who was deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border when she received her termination notice.
“It’s just as heartening to know that, after serving our contry and believing in it, to then be fed lies.” Hathaway said in a video statement released by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
The DAV’s “Protect Veterans” initiative and VoteVets, a progressive political action committee, have launched campaigns targeting Musk and his Republican allies for the layoffs, which they say disproportionately harm veterans. The DAV’s videos feature emotional pleas from fired veterans, while VoteVets is taking a more aggressive approach, aiming to unseat vulnerable GOP lawmakers who support the cuts.
“It feels like veterans are being personally attacked by Elon Musk,” said one unnamed veteran in a VoteVets ad. “I did not put my life on the line for some tech bro billionaire from South Africa to come in here and try to destroy our country.”
Katherine Hathaway, Army veteran – Fired from Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Visit https://t.co/PeAmkod6SI to learn more. pic.twitter.com/T5zBZg3fTS
— Disabled American Veterans (DAV) (@DAVHQ) March 18, 2025
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A Gut Punch to Those Who Served
The layoffs, which have already eliminated 1,000 jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), are expected to cut an additional 82,000 positions, according to an internal memo from VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek. The directive, aimed at reducing staffing to 2019 levels, claims to “eliminate waste” and “increase workforce efficiency.” But veterans and advocates say the cuts will devastate an already strained system that serves over nine million veterans.
Luke Graziani, a 20-year military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was among the first wave of layoffs. After less than a year in his role as a public affairs officer at a VA medical center, Graziani received a termination email on February 14.
“I was absolutely crushed,” he told As It Happens. “I raised my right hand and swore an oath when I accepted this position. I thought there would be stability, but it was all gone in just an email.”
Graziani and others warn that the cuts will lead to longer wait times and reduced care for veterans.
“Patient wait times may go up. The time it takes to get an appointment, to see your doctor, all those things are going to be impacted,” he said.
Andrea Ball, Air Force veteran – Fired from General Service Administration.
Visit https://t.co/CI4RULyQeu to learn more. pic.twitter.com/0dqx7aNV6D
— Disabled American Veterans (DAV) (@DAVHQ) March 18, 2025
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Political Fallout
The layoffs have become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over government efficiency and veterans’ care. The Trump administration has defended the cuts, with White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stating that the president will preserve veterans’ benefits while eliminating “bureaucracy and bloat.”
But veterans’ advocates argue that the cuts are being implemented recklessly, without regard for the critical roles many veterans play in federal agencies.
“Hearing from those who sustained illnesses and injuries in honorable service to our nation, only to later be arbitrarily fired via email by the same federal government they’ve devoted their lives to serve, is a gut punch,” said DAV National Commander Daniel Contreras.
As Trump’s second term unfolds, veterans’ voices are becoming a powerful force in the political landscape. VoteVets continues to pressure key GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), with aggressive ad campaigns and billboards, urging voters to hold them accountable for supporting Musk’s sweeping federal job cuts. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, the political fallout from these layoffs could shape the balance of power in Congress.
For veterans like Graziani, the fight is personal. “There are ways to do things that make sense, that are thoughtful and with care,” he said. “This wasn’t it.”
