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Musk's 'DOGE' Puts Veteran Services on the Chopping Block
- Free Citizens Network
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly implementing significant job cuts at the VA.
The planned cuts of around 30,000 jobs are said to affect critical services such as cancer care and suicide prevention.
Experts warn that these reductions could disrupt care for nearly 9 million veterans.
DOGE also has plans to cut SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) by $186 billion over a decade.
These SNAP cuts would impact 1.2 million veterans and 22,000 active-duty service members who depend on the program for food.
Under Elon Musk, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began implementing significant cuts that are putting critical services for American veterans at risk. Even after Musk’s departure, his legacy of cutting veteran services continues with DOGE. These controversial plans target both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and food assistance programs, sparking widespread concern and protests.
VA Job Cuts Trigger Alarm
The Department of Veterans Affairs, which serves nearly 9 million veterans and employs almost 500,000 people, is facing a planned reduction of approximately 30,000 jobs. An initial internal memo had called for 80,000 cuts, but that number was reduced following public backlash. Experts warn that even at this lower level, the cuts will push VA hospitals into a state of crisis, disrupting the quality of care and staffing levels.
While the administration claimed these cuts were aimed at "nonessential consulting," a review of the terminated contracts revealed that they included vital services. These included contracts for cancer care, toxic exposure assessments, and suicide prevention programs. An internal VA email confirmed that the cuts would also affect services like chemotherapy and imaging.
Rosie Torres, the executive director of Burn Pits 360, expressed her concern, stating, "there are growing concerns veterans will face delays, denials and disruptions in accessing critical services." This is especially because of the sheer scale of the VA's network, with 170 hospitals and 1,200 clinics, which makes implementing these cuts without serious service interruptions incredibly challenging. A staff member in Pennsylvania warned of the "severe and immediate impacts" the job losses would have, noting that some veterans could lose access to lifesaving clinical trials.
The sentiment among veterans was captured by Christopher Purdy, CEO of The Chamberlain Network, who stated, "Veterans were told our service would be honored, that we’d be taken care of when we came home. The same lawmakers who made those promises are backing budgets that would gut the systems veterans rely on.”
Food Assistance Programs Also on the Chopping Block
In addition to the VA cuts, DOGE’s plans are creating more pressure on military families, many of whom are already struggling with food insecurity. A staggering 25% of active-duty service members report facing food insecurity, compared to just 10% of the general population. As a result, many military families depend on programs like SNAP.
Despite this, DOGE has outlined plans to significantly cut these programs, including a proposed reduction of $186 billion from SNAP over a decade, while also tightening eligibility requirements. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has called this "the largest cut to SNAP in history." These changes would directly impact the estimated 22,000 service members and the 1.2 million veterans who depend on SNAP for food assistance.
