Veterans Affairs Confirms 29,000 Jobs Will Be Eliminated By September 30

The good news: the projected 76,000 Veterans Affairs layoffs won’t happen. The bad news: the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirms it’s cutting nearly 30,000 jobs.

There are about 263 million adults in the United States (age 18 and up). A little more than 6% are veterans—not 10%, not 8%: six percent.

This percentage is small. It’s not small because the work veterans do lacks value or purpose. It’s not small because there is a lack of need. The percentage is small, in part, because military service demands an unusually high level of commitment and sacrifice.

In order to become a U.S. veteran, you first have to serve in the military and subject yourself to possible long stretches of time away from friends and family and also the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Then—to hold veteran status for the purposes of receiving VA benefits, you can’t receive a dishonorable discharge at the conclusion of your service.

This is what Veterans Affairs says about status of discharge and benefits:

“Generally, to receive VA benefits and services, the Veteran’s character of discharge or service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general). However, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other than honorable discharges may qualify for VA benefits depending on a determination made by VA.”

Military service is a unique career choice. Active-duty military personnel aren’t typically considered employees because they aren’t civilians. And, once you enter, you don’t have the option to simply walk away whenever you feel like it.

Those who sign up for military service become legally obligated to complete preset time commitments (with few exceptions for early discharge).

Veterans Affairs will eliminate 29,000 jobs by September 30.

As of September 2024, the federal government (as a whole) employed 3,009,000 federal workers (civilians). This three (3) million number excludes active-duty military because (again) they aren’t deemed civilians.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported Monday that it employed an estimated 484,000 employees as of January 1, 2025. By September 30, 2025, the agency says it will have reduced this number to approximately 455,000 employees.

The 29,000 difference between the two numbers represents the nearly 30,000 federal jobs that the VA is on track to eliminate. However, instead of using the term layoffs, the Veterans Affairs describes this effort as “the reduction.”

“the reduction – achieved through normal attrition, early retirements, deferred resignations and the federal hiring freeze – eliminates need for a large-scale reduction in force”

Within the government, a mass layoff is known as a RIF (a reduction-in-force). Given that the VA intends to eliminate 29,000 jobs (instead of the earlier projected 76,000), the agency says there will not be a disruption with veterans’ care and benefits. The press release states,

“VA has multiple safeguards in place to ensure these staff reductions do not impact Veteran care or benefits. All VA mission-critical positions are exempt from the DRP and VERA, and more than 350,000 positions are exempt from the federal hiring freeze.”

Veterans Affairs already eliminated 17,000 positions.

12,000 more to cut. Veterans Affairs says that between January 20 and June 1, 2025, it has already eliminated 17,000 of the 29,000 positions that it intends to cut.

And, “between now and Sept. 30, the department expects nearly 12,000 additional VA employees to exit through normal attrition, voluntary early retirement authority” or by accepting the large-scale buyout (deferred resignation program) the administration put forward.

25.3% of Veterans Affairs employees are veterans with no protections.

As you can see from the chart, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employed 122,015 veterans as of September 2024. While it’s not the highest percentage of veteran employees, it’s still a good amount.

The Trump administration has taken steps—notably the buyout offer and a hiring freeze—to reduce the federal workforce. Most government agencies, including Veterans Affairs, have been directed to conduct mass layoffs, push retirements and offer buyout plans where possible.

The Pew Research Center shows that 25.3% of federal workers employed with the VA are veterans. When more than a quarter of the workforce are veterans (and have no carve-out protections) it stands to reason that many—who served their country honorably—will either lose their jobs or access to future employment as a result of the thousands of job cuts.

What is Veterans Affairs, and what is its FY 2026 budget request?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (first designed in 1930 as the Veterans Administration) was established as a way for the government to demonstrate an ongoing appreciation for the service and sacrifice of veterans.

In 1989, after several different iterations, Veterans Affairs became an executive branch cabinet-level agency with a goal to support and advance veterans and their families in the following areas:

• education opportunities
• rehabilitation services
• compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service
• home loan guaranties
• pensions
• burials
• healthcare, including the services of nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers

For FY 2025, Veterans Affairs requested a budget of 369.3 billion (up 9.8% from FY 2024). For FY 2026, the VA requests a budget of 441.3 billion. Congress has not yet passed the bill. The House passed its version in June 2025 and has sent it to the Senate.

Recommended reading:

New Federal Hiring Freeze End Date And Hiring Restrictions

How Long Will The Federal Hiring Freeze Last? Implications For Government Employees

Can Trump Dissolve USAID? 10,000 Jobs Hang In The Balance