The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the dismissal of over 1,000 employees. This decision affects non-bargaining unit probationary employees who have served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or less than two years in an excepted service appointment.

The personnel changes are expected to save the department more than $98 million annually. These resources will be redirected towards health care, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.

Currently, there are more than 43,000 probationary employees within the department. Most of these employees are exempt from the current dismissals as they serve in mission-critical positions supporting benefits and services for VA beneficiaries or are covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Employees participating in the Office of Personnel Management’s deferred resignation program are also exempt.

The dismissals take effect immediately and have been communicated directly to each affected employee. As a safeguard to ensure that VA benefits and services remain unaffected, senior leaders can request exemptions for certain dismissed employees.

These actions align with a broader government initiative under the Trump Administration aimed at enhancing agency efficiency and responsiveness. The VA is focusing on its core mission of providing optimal care and benefits to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

“At VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on Veteran care. We thank these employees for their service to VA. This was a tough decision, but ultimately it’s the right call to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “To be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”