Sen. Gallego Announces Blanket Hold on Veterans Affairs Nominees to Protest Planned Staff Cuts

Last month, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins confirmed he is seeking to reduce the department’s workforce back to its 2019 levels.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) speaks during the opening session of the National Treasury Employees Union Legislative Conference at the Hilton Washington D.C. National Mall, The Wharf on March 4, 2025. Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) announced on April 1 that he would impose a blanket hold on all Department of Veterans Affairs nominees in protest of a plan to cut more than 80,000 jobs at the department.

Reports emerged on March 4, based on a leaked memo attributed to the department chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, that the Trump administration seeks to cut as many as 84,000 Veterans Affairs jobs. Such a cut, if enacted, would bring the department back to its 2019 staffing level of around 400,000 employees.