Veterans, Unions, and Allies Unite to Save the VA!

Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up! We're diving into a story that's as urgent as it is important. Veterans, federal unions, and community allies are rallying together on July 31, 2025, in Augusta, GA, to protect the VA from unprecedented attacks. This isn't just about jobs; it's about the future of veteran healthcare. So, let's get into it!

WHY THIS MATTERS!

The Trump administration's sweeping layoffs and push toward privatization are wreaking havoc on the VA. Veterans are feeling the pinch, and the quality of care is at risk. We're talking about real people here—veterans who have served our country and now need our support more than ever.

THE DETAILS!

VA registered nurses with the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) are hosting a town hall on July 31, 2025, in Augusta, GA. The goal? To fight back against policies that threaten the VA and the care it provides to our veterans. Irma Westmoreland, RN, chair of NNU’s VA division, puts it bluntly: "There is a group of rich and powerful people in Washington, D.C. who want to pour billions of taxpayer dollars into giant health care corporations and the pockets of billionaires instead of into the care of those who served our country. Nurses, federal workers, and veterans are saying, ‘Absolutely not!’ We need everyone to join with us to save the VA."

WHO'S INVOLVED?

This isn't just a nurses' issue. It's a community issue. Joining the nurses will be members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Common Defense, the Georgia AFL-CIO, the Augusta Central Labor Council, and veterans themselves. They'll be sharing their personal experiences and addressing how current policies are threatening to privatize care and undermine the entire VA system.

THE BIG PICTURE!

The VA is planning to cut 30,000 positions by the end of the fiscal year. That's on top of the 82 percent of VA facilities already experiencing severe shortages in nursing staff. Meanwhile, the number of veterans seeking care in the VA is rising exponentially. This is a crisis, folks, and it's happening right now.

THE FIGHT BACK!

To silence federal workers from speaking out about these detrimental policy changes and safety issues, the administration is trying to strip federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. In response, NNU, AFGE, NFFE, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), have sued the Trump administration.

THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT!

The VA’s own “Red Team” Executive Roundtable analysis reported VA spending on private-sector care rose to $30 billion in fiscal year 2023. This threatens to materially erode the VA’s direct-care system and create a potential unintended consequence of eliminating choice for the millions of Veterans who prefer to use the VHA direct care system for all or part of their medical care needs.

THE CALL TO ACTION!

So, what can you do? Show up! Join the town hall on July 31, 2025, in Augusta, GA, or watch it live on National Nurses United’s Facebook page. Stand with the nurses, the federal workers, and the veterans who are fighting to save the VA. This is a battle for the soul of public service, and it's one we can't afford to lose.

THE FINAL WORD!

This is a no-brainer, folks. The VA is under attack, and it's up to us to fight back. So, mark your calendars, spread the word, and let's show the world that we stand with our veterans. Because when it comes to their care, there's no room for compromise. This is a fight for their lives, and we need to be there for them, just like they were there for us.