Photo by David Greene
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Feb. 24 the dismissal of more than an additional 1,400 employees in non-mission critical positions. It followed a previous VA announcement of the termination of 1,000 employees on Feb. 13, which is part of what the Trump Administration says is a government-wide effort to make agencies more efficient.
VA officials said to that end, and despite widespread outrage over the recent dismissals, “the VA is refocusing on its core mission: providing the best possible care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”
VA officials said meanwhile, he department is continuing “to hire for more than 300,000 mission-critical positions” that they said are exempt from the federal hiring freeze. They said VA positions considered mission-critical include the Veterans Crisis Line responders, among other roles, and they said VA positions considered non-mission critical include DEI-related positions, among other roles.
“These and other recent personnel decisions are extraordinarily difficult, but VA is focused on allocating its resources to help as many Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors as possible,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “These moves will not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. In fact, Veterans are going to notice a change for the better. In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping the department fulfill its core mission: providing the best possible care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”
VA officials said those terminated on Feb. 24 are 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. They said the personnel moves will save the department more than $83 million per year, and said the savings will be redirected back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.
According to the VA, there are currently nearly 40,000 probationary employees across the department, the vast majority of whom they said were exempt from the terminations because they serve in mission-critical positions, primarily those supporting benefits and services for VA beneficiaries. VA officials said department employees who elected to participate in the Office of Personnel Management’s deferred resignation program are also exempt from the latest round of terminations.
According to the VA, as an additional safeguard to ensure VA benefits and services are not impacted, the first Senior Executive Service (SES) or SES-equivalent leader in a dismissed employee’s chain of command can request that the employee be exempted from removal.
Meanwhile, on Feb. 25, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she was open to hiring some of the terminated former federal employees, saying, “Forget what DOGE says — New York wants YOU! From education to public safety, we are HIRING. Federal employees: check out ny.gov/wewantyou for opportunities in the Empire State.”
Image courtesy of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul via social media
In a video statement, she added, “The federal government might say ‘You’re fired!’ but here in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired!'” no doubt a a subtle dig at U.S. President Donald Trump’s catchphrase used during his time on “The Apprentice” TV show, and also previously spun by New York City Mayor Eric Adams at prior Bronx hiring halls, as reported.
As also reported, the governor recently announced actions she has taken to “restore public trust in New York City Municipal government, amid calls from some quarters for Adams’ resignation after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped, “without prejudice,” bribery and corruption charges brought against him last year following an investigation into his campaign finances for his 2021 mayoral election campaign.
The mayor has long denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly asked for the case to be dismissed indefinitely. The DOJ dropped the case, for now, but can bring charges at a later point, and his critics believe this leaves the mayor vulnerable to be manipulated by the president, alleging some manner of private deal was made between them.
Hochul continued, “In fact, we love federal workers. Whatever your skills, we value public service. Check out potental jobs at http://ny.gov/wewantyou. Come join our New York State family.”
Norwood News has reached out to the VA for more information as to how this latest round of dismissals affects the Bronx VA Medical Center, located in Fordham Manor, if at all, and will share any updates we receive. As reported, it was confirmed during the Bronx Community Board 7 February Veterans Affairs committee meeting that the first round of dismissals did impact upon hospital employees. Read our previous story on the initial dismissmals here.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in a new memo, the Trump administration further outlined its future plans for federal employees in general.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to [email protected] or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.