Blumenthal Statement on VA Hiring Freeze Exemptions

Blumenthal: Only a clear, unequivocal statement to exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze will reassure me and veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement on theannouncementthat certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees would be exempt from the federal hiring freezeissuedby President Trump on Monday. These exemptions follow sustained efforts from Blumenthal this week urging the Administration to address the VA hiring freeze at aCommittee hearingon Tuesday, at VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins’nomination markup, and in alettersent to President Trump yesterday.
“The latest Administration hiring freeze announcement still falls short. While I’m encouraged the President responded to our concerns by exempting certain VA personnel, only a clear, unequivocal statement to exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze will reassure me—and veterans—they will receive the care and benefits they need and deserve. The exemptions listed yesterday provide more questions than answers and fail to include key personnel, including Veterans Benefits Administration employees. The Trump Administration is going to try to confuse the issue with a lot of vague assurances. We need a clear commitment every VA employee is exempt—effective immediately. Moreover, the Trump Administration must address the offers it has already rescinded that are now exempt.”
As Ranking Member, Blumenthal has led the charge to raise alarms about the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and its impact on VA and veterans. On Tuesday, BlumenthalpressedDoug Collins to push back against a hiring freeze at VA, if confirmed. At Collins’nomination markup, Blumenthal once again stressed his concerns about a hiring freeze at VA and committed to working with Collins to address this issue.
Yesterday, Blumenthal also led a group of 24 Democratic Senators calling on President Trump to immediately exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze. In theletterto Trump, Blumenthal and the Senators stressed concerns about the negative impact the hiring freeze will have on the delivery of veterans’ health care and benefits nationwide – if not quickly reversed.
A link to the Trump Administration’s full list of exempt VA employees can be foundHERE. These new exemptions are all specific to a subset of positions in the Veterans Health Administration, and are made up primarily of direct care workers, including nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists.It is still not a full exemption and excludes a number of critical positions at VA – including all positions at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA).As a result, Blumenthal is continuing his push for all VA employees to be designated as exempt immediately.
Yesterday’s announcement from VA does not provide exemptions for:
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