March 17, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: I am writing to express my concern regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs plan to cut 83,000 jobs nationwide as reported by the Associated Press. As a service-disabled Marine Corps veteran and lifelong advocate for veterans I have seen firsthand how vital VA services are to me and to other veterans, but particularly in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District where more than 13,000 veterans live. About 2,000 call Rockbridge County home.
Since the passage of the PACT Act in August 2022, more than 796,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care — a nearly 37 percent increase over the previous equivalent period. This substantial growth underscores the escalating demand for VA services.
I worry that such a drastic reduction in personnel — aiming to return to 2019 staffing levels — fails to account for the recent increased demand for VA health care and benefits services in the years since.
I am particularly concerned about how these cuts will affect the VA Medical Center in Salem, where I and thousands of area veterans receive excellent care.
The men and women who served this nation deserve a VA that is fully staffed and equipped to meet their needs — not one that is stretched thin due to sweeping personnel reductions. I our elected officials and my fellow veterans to take a stand against these cuts and advocate for a balanced approach that ensures efficiency without sacrificing access to and quality of care.
Thank you for your time and your continued commitment to serving those who have served. I look forward to knowing how Congressman Ben Cline, Virginia 6th District, feels about this critical issue and how he will represent his veteran constituents. MIKE LENNON Rockbridge County
