Trump Puts Musk To Work On GOP Dream of Destroying the VA

First thing – Republicans have LONG dreamed of destroying the VA Health Care System and in general doing away with the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs in general. Never, ever forget that. For all their faux patriotism most conservative politicians see troops, whether active duty or veteran’s back in civilian life as NOTHING more than props for photo ops. (Hey camera person – make sure you get my lapel flag pin in the shot!) The VA Health Care system holds a special place in their black hearts that want to kill it because a) It’s pure socialized medicine, and b) Despite some well publicized issues at a few VA medical centers at times overall the VA Health Care system annually has as high or higher an approval rating as any private health care delivery system. Quality, comprehensive health care with far less administrative crap than any private system. Or Medicare.  Try as they might the GOP hasn’t been able to kill the VA, but now with Elon Musk and his gang it looks like the conservative wet-dream, one of their longest fantasies might become real.

We’ve long known Trump’s attitude. He’s a draft dodger in his own right, and from a line of them going back generations. Not one member of his family on either side has served a single day in uniform.  In a country where for decades only around two-percent of people have served (even with 9/11) he’s gotten away with that. However it goes beyond draft-dodging with Trump to outright disregard. Contempt even. (Jealousy of those who’ve proven courage he’s always lacked perhaps?) We know all about gesturing at headstones at Arlington and ‘I don’t get it. What was in it for them?’ and multiple other examples.   I’ve written and posted articles detailing many of them.  What matters is that like way too many Republicans Trump doesn’t give a rat’s-ass about our troops and Veterans unless he wants some around him for a photo op.

Given that it’s natural that given the hatred of the VA that’s part of conservative DNA Trump would tell Elon Musk to turn DOGE loose on the Veteran’s Administration. As Rolling Stone put it yesterday Trump and Musk have declared war on the VA. Rolling Stone begins with noting Trump’s new Executive Order about DOGE. And then gets to the heart of what’s got me so angry:

This executive order seeks to impose severe hiring restrictions and would disproportionately harm veterans, who make up one-third of the federal workforce. Requiring agencies to hire only one new employee for every four who leave will drastically reduce VA staffing levels. At a time when the veteran population is aging and the VA’s mission has expanded under Biden, this policy will lead to massive delays and outright denials in health care, benefits processing, and disability claims – the essential services veterans depend on to survive.

Full, disclosure. I’m a Marine Veteran and senior citizen who gets his healthcare from the VA. I had good employer sponsored health insurance a few times in my life but the VA has been better. For both the quality of the care and the minimal paperwork stuff. So yes this is personal that conservatives have fought for so long to do away with the existing system and force me onto Medicare. THOSE co-pays, given my significant health problems would be more than I can afford. I’d be homeless again, less able to access much needed health care and dead well before my time. I’m far from alone on that and wonder where the hell are the VFW and American Legion?  During the last campaign and even now they seem to be in Witness Protection. That’s a subject to be dealt with in a whole different article. What matters is that the DOGE ‘Meat Cleaver’ is already taking whacks at the VA.

Rolling Stone’s article is detailed but please do this ole broken down jarhead a favor and read it. It notes what the DOGE Executive Order authorizes/instructs and how it will impact so much of what the VA does.

The order also forces agencies to implement immediate reductions in force, prioritizing cuts to positions not explicitly mandated by law. In practice, this means slashing administrative staff, veteran outreach programs, and transition assistance. Many of these programs help veterans adjust to civilian life, with federal employment serving as a stable career path for thousands. Active-duty military members stationed overseas also rely on these programs for critical support, from child care to helping their spouses secure employment in foreign countries where they may lack language skills or legal work status.

To say employees at the agency are worried for their jobs is an understatement. New Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs Doug Collins can spout all the bullshit he wants but those at the agency (which has NEVER been fully funded) who do so much for this nation’s Veterans have heard GOP appointees try to cover up what they really intend to do (cut services and sabotage the agency) before. In the past they’ve been able to limit much of the damage and keep providing vital services. Now however the weapon being used on the VA is far more destructive. And as a different article from Newsweek tells us it’s already begun. Newsweek points out that already over 1,000 staffers have been fired. It’s my understanding that anyone still in probationary status (common with new employees in the private sector too) are gone. But it’s not stopped with that. Obviously no one will be getting hired anytime soon and as I already noted the agency has never been funded to the point of being fully staffed.

Newsweek includes Collins’ statements about how the cuts won’t negatively impact services and I’m calling bullshit right here and now. The agency doesn’t have enough people to begin with, you cut a bunch of people (with NO even ‘outline’ of a plan to “reorganize”), make it clear more and probably bigger cuts are coming, AND have a long-held goal of getting rid of the VA and want to tell us services won’t be affected?  Bullshit, bullshit BULLSHIT!  But Collins is being a good little boy and spouting the Trump/Musk line as Newsweek indicates:

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, who was confirmed by the Senate to lead the agency earlier this month, has said that VA benefits will not be cut despite the staffing cull.

“I’m the Secretary of VA, and I’m telling you right now, that’s not happening … the reality is, veterans benefits aren’t getting cut,” Collins said. “In fact, we are actually giving and improving services.”

Sure Dougie. Yank on the other leg. It’s got bells on it. You’ve long wanted the VA gone and for everything to be privatized and NOW all of a sudden you’re going to convince us going Texas Chain Saw Massacre on your agency is all in the name of improving services?  Well, Trumpty and Elon should keep something in mind. THEY may think Veterans are useless and idiots. “Suckers and losers.” But over six million alone rely on the VA for their health care. Millions more have gotten assistance in a myriad of ways from help transitioning to civilian life, help with more difficult matters like homelessness and access to other services both public and from partnerships in the private sector. Even a place to be buried and a grave marker when they die.

In the past, that has been pointed out to many a GOP politician and caused them to tread carefully in attempts to limit the scope of the VA and/or sabotage it. Now however Musk has authority to just go in and make HUGE, wholesale changes and doesn’t have a clue about the impact.  HE won’t face any consequences but I know damn well I’m not the only one lighting up the phones or filling the email boxes of elected leaders!  Yes, I’m also making damned sure Democrats know they should be SCREAMING about this. To not give their Republican counterparts the tiniest bit of breathing room to try and spin this as anything other than what it is. Which is:

Musk wants to do to the VA what he’s done with USAID. And Trump is fine with it!!

So much for Lincoln’s eloquent quote that would one day lead to the establishment of the VA about this nation’s obligation “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” In my own lifetime despite the posing and rhetoric those words mean nothing to most conservatives. Troops are there to go fight, bleed and die when needed but after that they are expenses on the balance sheet. And things got to the point where it became unwritten conservative dogma to ERASE that line item from the budget.  To their way of thinking money spent on Veterans is money that could be funneled to rich people. Tax cuts for rich. Money for giant private insurance companies and so on.  As for the relative few who still believe in the philosophy Lincoln expressed, they simply don’t have the courage to speak out.

Just remember, promises WERE made. VA benefits are no more an ‘entitlement’ than Social Security or Medicare. The benefits aren’t entitlements – they were EARNED!  So please, if you’re not outraged think over how vile what’s happening is and speak up.

********** And now, a message from Ursula I hope you take to heart **********

Friends, I am forced to self-promote and ask you for money. We had a bad year compared with 2023 and the end of the year has been catastrophic. Traffic died on November 5. We are a small blog and completely self-supporting by ad revenue, donations, and subscriptions. If you can afford a monthly subscription that would help us out. If you can make a small donation, likewise. Our only goal is to stay in business and give you the best content we can generate. You are the wind beneath our wings. Thank you. Ursula

Support the site with a subscription today and see no more ads!

Go Ad-free Now!