VA health centers confront nationwide staffing crisis
In a new report released this week, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified 4,434 staffing shortages for this fiscal year, a 50% increase from FY2024. Ninety-four percent of VA facilities reported severe shortages of medical officers and 79% reported severe shortages of nurses.
The independent OIG audit determined that all 139 VA medical center campuses are experiencing severe staffing shortages. That survey was completed in April, however, before many VA staff were let go or took buyout options from DOGE or the Trump administration, indicating that the true extent of the nationwide staffing shortage is likely to be far more severe than what the audit suggests.
By the numbers
The VA employed roughly 467,000 employees as of June and oversees health care for over nine million U.S. veterans across 139 main medical campuses and 1,193 outpatient clinics, according to The Washington Post.
The Post also reports that the VA’s budget and workforce had grown significantly after the passage of the PACT Act in 2022 to keep pace with increasing enrollment and claims.
Now, however, instead of recruiting more staff, the Trump administration is looking to cut back. In March, the department announced a goal to lay off 83,000 workers. In July, following significant pushback, officials revised that number to 30,000. Administration officials say they are trying to eliminate what they call waste and inefficiency.
Amid the slashing of federal budgets and mass layoffs of federal workers, fewer professionals are looking or applying for federal jobs. The number of professionals who applied for VA positions in May 2025 was only about half the number of those who applied in May 2024.
Democrats react
Democrats who work on veteran affairs issues were quick to respond to the report’s findings.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a ranking member on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “This report confirms what we’ve warned for months — this Administration is driving dedicated VA employees to the private sector at untenable rates. Staffing shortages at the Department are getting significantly worse, including critical veterans’ health care positions and essential jobs that keep VA facilities running.”
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “Instead of making VA an employer of choice, Secretary Collins continues to vilify the VA workforce and strip them of their rights. Now, VA is facing critical staffing shortages across the country, leading to decreased access and choice for veterans. Veterans deserve and have earned better.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
