FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2025

CONTACT: press@iava.org

Veterans Organization Calls for Transparency, Workplace Reform, and Caution on AI Amid Planned Staff Cuts

Washington, DC – The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) acknowledges the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) updated plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 30,000 positions, not through large scale reductions in force (RIFs), but through through attrition, resignations (both traditional and deferred), retirements, and hiring freezes. This revised approach, while still a significant reduction, is a notable and encouraging departure from the previously discussed, much larger cuts. IAVA stands ready to engage with Secretary Collins, Congress, and all stakeholders to ensure these workforce adjustments are implemented in a transparent and collaborative manner that remains centered on veteran care.

IAVA recognizes the VA’s need for efficient management and responsible resource allocation, and agrees that there are changes that need to be made to the VA to improve efficiency. We appreciate a strategy that aims to avoid large scale RIFs. Throughout the process and previous discussions of potential RIFs and reorganizations, our paramount concern has been the uninterrupted delivery of high-quality, timely health care and benefits to our nation’s veterans. This concern remains unchanged, and we urge the VA to be transparent about where the staff reductions have taken place and any future reorganization plans. 

Additionally, we cannot ignore persistent reports of toxic work environments within the VA that have accompanied the stories of proposed workforce reductions and agency reorganizations. Any workforce adjustment must be accompanied by a concerted effort to address these underlying issues, which can significantly impact morale, productivity, and ultimately, the quality of veteran care. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the potential for institutional knowledge to depart the department as experienced personnel retire or move on without appropriate back-filling. The loss of this expertise could create significant gaps in service and operational efficiency.

“Veterans have earned the benefit of the best care and services this nation can provide and that means investing in the people who deliver that care every day,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “Time and time again, research shows that care and services received from the VA create better outcomes for veterans than those received outside. Any effort to reduce the VA workforce must be transparent, protect critical services, and ensure that cost-cutting doesn’t come at the expense of veterans’ health and well-being.”

As the VA streamlines processes, we also urge caution regarding an over-reliance on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. While these tools hold promise for streamlining operations, they are not a panacea. Concerns about inherent biases within these technologies and their ongoing development suggest that they are not yet ready to fully replace human expertise, particularly in the nuanced and complex landscape of veteran care and benefits.

We will continue to advocate for the resources and personnel necessary to uphold our nation’s promises to those who served, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

For media inquiries, please contact:
press@iava.org
(212) 982-9699

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of American veterans. We represent over 425,000 members, and our best-in-class, non-partisan advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans has chalked up big wins for our community – and America – for 20 years and counting.