VA pauses billions in cuts lauded by Musk as lawmakers and veterans decry loss of critical care

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs has temporarily suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts following concerns that the move would hurt critical veterans’ health services, lawmakers and veterans service organizations said Wednesday.

The pause affects hundreds of VA contracts that Secretary Doug Collins a day earlier described as simply consulting deals, whose cancellation would save $2 billion as the Trump administration works to slash costs across the federal government.

“No more paying consultants to do things like make Power Point slides and write meeting minutes!” Collins posted to X Tuesday, in a post that was then lauded by Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief at the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The Associated Press has obtained the full list of 875 affected contracts, which shows the cuts would affect everything from cancer care to the ability to assess toxic exposure. The list underscores how the Trump administration’s approach to broad spending reductions has immediate and potentially unintended consequences, generating significant concern not just among Democrats but also Republican lawmakers.

-snip-

By TARA COPP and CARLA K. JOHNSON
Updated 7:41 PM EST, February 26, 2025


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/doge-veterans-affairs-cuts-health-services-contracts-9a726b744e402da01d711023b0fc49a1

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm so relieved that

Republican lawmakers are SIGNIFICANTLY CONCERNED. Concerned that their constituents will know re-election is more important to their lawmakers then the health of veterans. Clutch those pearls.

[Solly Mack]

2. "unintended consequences", my ass.

[travelingthrulife]

13. AP still carrying water for these monsters

[FloridaBlues]

3. All these cuts will start to really effect more people and hopefully

Much more outrage than what we see now. To get there attention

[RazorbackExpat]

4. A family member is heavily dependant on the VA

He gloated about the Orange Menace's win. I wonder what he's thinking now?

[Skittles]

5. probably how he can blame it on Dems

that is what they usually do

[RazorbackExpat]

12. My sister has told me

not to get into a political discussion with him. She also supported Kamala, but our family is so small, she said we should just grin and bear the ramblings of our two Republican outliers.

[Skittles]

15. I refuse to "grin and bear" repukes

I either tell them to fuck themselves or they can STFU; yes INDEED.

[RazorbackExpat]

16. Like I said, our family is very small

My grandfather had 9 siblings, and only two of them had kids, and both of them were girls, and only one of those girls had kids of her own. My grandmother had one sibling, and she had no kids. I found out I have some half-siblings on my ex-father's side, but after contacting them, it became apparent that there was no point in continuing that relationship. So it's just my family, and my sister's family, and every one of us blood relatives, with the aforementioned exceptions,who do not support the Chump shitshow.

[Skittles]

6. sounds like that POS Collins got handed his ass

yes INDEED

[Hassler]

7. Nice to see a loudmouth asshole like Collins faceplant

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Thank you for your service

Now go die.

Ketamine Head and the Obnoxious Obese Orange guy

[cstanleytech]

9. I feel no sympathy for any of the ones that supported Trump.........ever.

[Wonder Why]

11. As a disabled veteran, I agree with you. Too many MGAt veterans (they infest the DAV & American

Legion) supported donzilla and Muskovite so they can reap what they sowed.

Worse, as much as Private BoneSpurs made fun of them, they loved him more than ever.

[pbrmn]

10. Recall

Would it be possible to start an effort to recall all Republican members of Congress? Dont know the rules on this, but may put some fear in some of them. We need to make them fear us more than they fear Trump

[republianmushroom]

14. Who with any common sense would enlist in our arm forces ?

This country treats our veterans like dog shit.