ASHEVILLE, N.C. — U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins was met with protesters when he arrived at the Asheville VA Medical Center Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs projects laying off more than 70,000 people across the department to get the VA workforce back to 2019 numbers

  • 2,400 probationary employees were recently laid off, allowing the department to direct funding to health care for veterans

  • VA Secretary Doug Collins says 300,000-plus medical staff would be protected from the projected layoffs

  • On Tuesday protesters outside the Asheville VA Medical Center shared concerns for the tens of thousands whose jobs are in limbo

He was greeted by signs that read “stop the cuts” and “support veterans” held by many veterans themselves, like John Culp.

“I served in the army for 29 years,” Culp said.

He stood outside the facility voicing his outrage to Collins’ projected job cuts across the VA workforce that would affect more than 70,000 people.

During a press conference Tuesday, Collins said the cuts are needed.  

“The minute somebody says let’s change something, ‘Ooo you can’t touch that.’ So, let me just tell outside folks, I’m going to work hard to take care of VA employees, put the veteran first,” Collins said. “And I’m going to challenge anybody, that you can’t tell me that things are bad and 60% of calls to congressional offices is saying we need help getting VA benefits and then tell me we can’t change anything.”

Culp says he understands change is necessary, but he’s concerned with how it’s being done.

“We can always take a look at efficiencies,” he said. “But we take a look at efficiencies with auditors and studies.”

Collins says 14 employees were already laid off at the VA Medical Center in Asheville, including an executive assistant and stock clerks. It’s part of the VA’s cut of 2,400 probationary employees who’ve been on the job for less than two years, which allows hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to be redirected to health care and benefits for veterans, according to the department’s website.

“How about we move it toward recruiting and hiring doctors and nurses and making our facilities, so that they don’t have the shortages in staffing that every hospital around here has,” he said.

And even with the projected 15% staffing cut nationwide, Collins says 300,000-plus medical staff are exempt. But, protesters like Kitty Kelly aren’t buying it.

“I think I might believe that today. I don’t believe that will be true even a week from now,” she said.

And Culp says those jobs Collins is cutting are just as important as the medical staff. 

“They say they’re going to try to reorganize things so we have more doctors and nurses. But, the admin staff are key,” he said. “The admin staff are the ones who make your appointments and set up the times and process your paperwork.” 

Right now there’s no timeline on when those projected cuts will happen. During Tuesday’s press conference Collins added some veterans would also be exempt from cuts as well as mission-critical positions, including crisis line responders.