Indianapolis — Rallies were held across the country on Friday as veterans and supporters protested cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Many veterans are concerned about recent layoffs, with the VA Secretary stating earlier this month that further cuts are expected.
“They aren’t standing up for us,” Sam Belles, a disabled Army veteran, stated. “Even though we were standing up. They want to send us to war but not help us when we return.”
Demonstrators in Indiana echoed this sentiment, as veterans fear that decisions made in Washington will harm the veteran community.
“You don’t take a meat axe where you need a scalpel, and that’s what’s happening here,” said Vietnam Army veteran Michael Leonard. “Picking an arbitrary number out of thin air and deciding to do away with all those people totally disregards our injuries, our sicknesses, and our needs.”
Leonard, who attended the protest with several other Vietnam War veterans, is particularly concerned about the rate at which the cuts are implemented. He is concerned that these decisions will have an impact on the benefits that veterans are entitled to.
“It’s wrong,” he said. “It makes us, our families, and VA employees suffer. I am against this policy.”
VA Secretary Doug Collins has stated that the cuts will not have an impact on veterans’ care, but rather improve it. Many veterans, however, question this statement, expressing concern about potential increases in service wait times.
“It’s hard enough to get mental health care, but when you start shortening all the mental healthcare workers, how can the vets get the care that they need?” Belles spoke.
The protests sent a message directly to Indiana’s elected officials in Washington.
“Do your job, do what you were elected to do, and stand by your oath,” urged Perry Harwood, a Marine Corps Reserve veteran.
The Indiana VA was contacted for comment on whether the employee reductions are affecting local services, but no response has yet been received.