Senator Duckworth: While Donald Trump Parades Around DC, He Is Slashing Services for Veterans & Military Families

While Donald Trump rolls tanks down Pennsylvania Avenue for his $45 million military parade, veterans who once operated them in combat now face devastating Veterans Affairs cuts, threats to lifesaving health care, and gutted financial resources because of Trump.

Ahead of Donald Trump’s birthday parade, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth — Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — released the following statement:

“Donald Trump is throwing himself a military parade for his birthday, but he doesn’t know what it means to serve. Tomorrow, as Donald Trump — a man who dodged the draft five times and called Servicemembers willing to lay down their lives ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ — celebrates himself, Democrats will uplift America’s true heroes: our Servicemembers who every day live the oath of country before self.” 

Trump is ripping away veterans’ health care and hard-earned benefits through mass firings and funding cuts, and will inflict even more damage with his billionaire-first budget.

  • 1 in 10 veterans rely on Medicaid to access health care, but Trump’s budget bill is pushing to slash Medicaid by $800 billion.
  • Trump’s devastating cuts have “battered” veteran crisis line operators, who are scrambling for more resources as they navigate increasing call volumes.
  • Trump’s sweeping cuts are causing “severe and immediate impacts,” including stopping life-saving cancer trials and treatment for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
  • Trump’s sweeping layoffs also included Iraq War veterans who received no severance or notice.
  • The Trump administration’s disastrous mass firings have disproportionately hurt veterans, who make up 30% of the total federal workforce. 
  • Even Republicans have slammed Trump for targeting veterans — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) criticized Trump for cutting $400 million grants that support veterans. 

Because of Trump’s chaotic funding cuts, veterans are struggling to access care through the VA. 

  • Many of the veterans calling the agency’s crisis line have either not received a response or have had their claim denied following federal funding cuts. 
  • The Trump administration’s order to rescind remote work arrangements for federal employees reversed a VA policy that existed long before the pandemic, because it helped the agency reach more patients across the country. 
  • Psychiatric nurses at a VA outpatient facility were forced to conduct patient intake interviews in public spaces, forcing veterans to provide “very personal” information in public.
  • A VA social worker was forced to treat homeless veterans in a windowless mailroom crowded with undelivered boxes.
  • As the VA already suffers from severe health care staff shortages, Trump’s reckless policy is pushing more doctors to retire early.

“We’re Asking For What’s Promised”: Across the country, veterans are speaking out against Trump’s mass firings and funding cuts.