Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is troubled by what the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce mean for veterans in those positions.
“I do think this is a great betrayal of so many in our country, but especially a betrayal of our veterans,” Van Hollen said Tuesday at Towson University.
Van Hollen referred to “clearly illegal actions” by President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk, who he said were using false claims of “poor performance” to justify widespread firings of federal employees from agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The administration plans to cut 80,000 VA employees, according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press two weeks ago.
“They got notices for claiming they were fired for poor performance. But in fact, so many have gotten recent reviews and evaluations with glowing performance reports,” Van Hollen said.
INITIAL COURT rulings related to mass firings, such as the decision in Maryland v. United States Department of Agriculture, have established that the Trump administration did not adhere to “reduction in force” (RIF) notice procedures in violation of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act. Maryland Federal Judge James K. Bredar issued a temporary restraining order to reinstate terminated probationary employees — who Van Hollen says have the least job security among federal workers and have consequently become Trump’s first targets.
Van Hollen also criticized the practice of putting federal employees on administrative leave.
“This whole claim of government efficiency is a farce because what is more inefficient than paying people and then telling them not to come into their job on behalf of the American people?” Van Hollen quipped.
Asked to respond to Van Hollen’s claim that federal staffing cuts are a “betrayal” of veterans, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly issued a statement touting Trump’s VA reforms while echoing Republican talking points about addressing “wasteful spending.”
“President Trump has consistently stood up for our brave men and women in uniform — delivering crucial reforms that improved VA healthcare, decreased Veteran homelessness, and enhanced education benefits,” Kelly said in an email. “His efforts to cut wasteful spending and make agencies like the VA more efficient will ensure our government can better serve all American families, especially our Veterans.”
