The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print editon.

Hours after rumors circulated on social media on Feb. 13 that members of the new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by unelected billionaire Elon Musk, a “special government employee,” would visit the Bronx VA Medical Center in Fordham Manor on Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the dismissal of 1,000 employees at unspecified VA sites across the country.

 

According to a VA press release dated Feb. 13, the resulting savings would “enable VA to redirect over $98 million annually to health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.” The release continued, “Those dismissed today include non-bargaining unit probationary employees who have served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or who have served less than two years in an excepted service appointment.”

 

VA officials said, “There are currently 43,000 probationary employees across the department, the vast majority of whom are exempt from today’s personnel actions because they serve in mission-critical positions, primarily those supporting benefits and services for VA beneficiaries, or are covered under a collective bargaining agreement.”

 

According to the VA, the dismissals are part of “a government-wide Trump Administration effort to make agencies more efficient, effective and responsive to the American people.”

 

VA Secretary Doug Collins said, “At the VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on veteran care. We thank these employees for their service to the VA. This was a tough decision, but ultimately, it’s the right call to better support veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve.” Collins said the layoffs would not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries.

 

In 2022, Norwood News had reported on similar concerns raised among local Bronx veterans that there could be a potential closure or scaling back of services at the Bronx VA Medical Center but during a visit by then-VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy to the Medical Center, the federal agency and Remy took steps to reassure them this would not happen.

 

Meanwhile, on Feb. 14, the Military Times reported that the latest firings follow the imposed White House buyout deadline whereby tens of thousands of federal employees were offered eight months’ severance pay in exchange for their resignations. The outlet reported that about 75,000 employees had accepted that offer, well short of the 200,000 administration officials had hoped would consider it.

 

According to the VA, the dismissals were effective immediately and were communicated directly to each employee. VA officials said as an additional safeguard to ensure VA benefits and services would not be impacted, the first senior executive service (SES) or SES-equivalent leader in a dismissed employee’s chain of command could request that the employee be exempted from removal.

 

Hours before the VA’s announced firings on Feb. 13, Joe Bello, a local veterans activist, posted on X, “Multiple sources are reporting DOGE will be on-site at the @VABronx & @HinesVAH (Chicago) tomorrow!” Bello added, “It’s unknown what DOGE will be doing, why these two medical centers were chosen, or how long they will be visiting.”

 

On Friday, Feb. 14, a man entering the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located on West Kingsbridge Road in Fordham Manor, was asked if he was worried about DOGE repercussions. He said, “Yes, I am, because my job is on the line.” We asked the man for his views on Trump’s frequent claims that he is a supporter of veterans. The VA worker replied, “Yes, that was just to get our votes.”

The employee said he had five years on the job and was a member of the on-site EMS team. As he began to walk into the main gate of the hospital, he added, “I’m concerned about all of the firings.”

Philip, a resident of Dyre Avenue, was exiting the hospital when he was also asked if he was concerned about what the Trump administration may do with the VA Hospital health care system. He replied, “Yes, regarding all (of) that.”

 

He continued, “They got in the paychecks [system] and he [Trump] wanted to f—k with Social Security.” Philip continued, “So all this time, you work and pay into Social Security, and all of a sudden, he wants to come and take it. He lost his mind! He [Trump] just wants to load his pockets with money.” Asked if he had voted for Trump, Philip replied, “No.” None of the employees we spoke to said they had seen any DOGE employees on site.

 

Norwood News made three calls to the Bronx VA’s public information department and at one point was connected to the wrong department. We asked a man who answered the phone about the announced firings by the federal government. He replied, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I can’t answer any questions. I’m not the right person to do anything for you.”

 

We also sent email requests to the VA press office to find out if DOGE was in fact on site at the James J. Peters VA Hospital on Feb. 14, how many workers at the Bronx facility were let go, if any, and what jobs those workers held. We did not receive an immediate response but will continue to monitor the situation.

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Oct. 9, 2024 that Unique Allen, 34, of Buck Street, The Bronx, a former nursing assistant at the Bronx VA Medical Center in Fordham Manor, was sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to stealing a patient’s credit card and purchasing food deliveries, shoes and other items.

 

According to City data, New York City is home to 135,138 veterans, including 23,482 Bronx veterans. The City Council held an oversight hearing on addressing the needs of homeless veterans on Feb. 19. According to a NYS Comptroller’s report, despite decreases in veteran homelessness in recent years, the State has seen a jump in homelessness between January 2023 and January 2024 of 53.1 percent, more than four times the rate in the rest of the nation.

 

On Feb. 20, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles demanding answers on the legality of the appointment of Musk to head up DOGE.

 

“Although the White House has asserted that Musk is a ‘special government employee,’ we have seen no evidence that he is complying with the procedures and rules that ordinarily apply to such employees,” Whitehouse said. “In addition, the nature and scope of his authority suggests he is not properly a special government employee but is instead a principal officer who requires Senate confirmation under the Appointments Clause.”

 

According to Whitehouse, special government employees must comply with federal financial-disclosure requirements and criminal conflict-of-interest laws. He said officers who exercise significant authority and do not report to a Senate-confirmed superior require Senate confirmation under the Appointments Clause, meaning they may not be appointed by the President unilaterally. They too must comply with federal financial-disclosure requirements and criminal conflict-of-interest laws.

 

Several veterans and federal workers have spoken to both media outlets and at town halls voicing their dismay at being fired.

 

For more on this topic, click here, here, here, and here.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.