Anger and urgency again filled the air outside Manhattan’s Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus on Sunday as lawmakers, veterans, and union leaders rallied against the Trump Administration’s plan to slash 80,000 Department of Veterans Affairs jobs.
Led by Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, US Sen. Chuck Schumer, US Rep. Jerry Nadler, and state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, the demonstration drew dozens of legislators, VA employees, and labor leaders demanding the plan be abandoned. They condemned the administration’s hollow assurances that veterans’ benefits would not be affected.
The proposed cuts would gut a workforce where veterans make up over 25%, directly harming those the VA is meant to serve. With more than 138,000 veterans calling New York City home, speakers warned the consequences would be devastating and immediate.
“Firing over 80,000 VA workers, many of whom are veterans themselves, will undoubtedly hurt the healthcare and benefits for 138,000 veterans in New York City. This is not how our veterans should be treated– it’s not only unacceptable, it’s un-American,” said Schumer. “Our nation told our veterans we would take care of them if they put their lives and health on the line to protect our freedoms, and the Trump administration is breaking that promise.”
Nadler didn’t mince words about the stakes for local veterans and VA workers.
“By slashing 80,000 jobs at the VA, Donald Trump is compromising the health and safety of our veterans and dishonoring their service and sacrifice to our nation,” said Nadler. “The Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus has been a vital source of care for the thousands of veterans here in Manhattan and across the New York metropolitan area. Any cuts will be catastrophic for veterans across the City and the thousands of public servants who support them.”
Among those rallying was Cheryl Jones, president of AFGE Local 862 and a 25-year VA veteran, who vowed to fight back.
“Eliminating 80,000 employees, many of whom were hired to provide critical services to our veterans, is a slap in the face to that promise. I will not stay silent. I will continue to fight for employee rights and stand strong in support of excellent veteran care services. Our veterans deserve nothing less, and neither do the employees who serve,” said Jones.
Veterans advocate Joe Bello, of NY Metro Vets, echoed the call to action, warning that the cuts would leave veterans stranded.
“Veterans earned their benefits through service and deserve care that’s reliable, accessible, and provided by people who understand their needs. The administration should not cut the very programs and staff that support those who’ve served,” said Bello.
