Federal cuts severely impact veterans' health care services

The Trump administration is cutting federal spending, leading to significant job losses at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA plans to eliminate 83,000 jobs, affecting health care and services for millions of veterans. These cuts come as veterans' health care needs are rising, with 400,000 new enrollments in the past year. Staffing shortages have already caused long wait times for care, and the cuts may force the VA to pay for veterans to seek outside medical care. Additionally, the Veterans Crisis Line is losing staff, which could worsen response times for veterans in crisis. Research funding is also being reduced, potentially impacting veterans' health studies. Overall, these changes threaten the support and services veterans rely on.