Nathan Hooven, a disabled veteran of the Air Force who supported Donald Trump in the recent presidential election, finds himself grappling with unexpected unemployment. Just a few months into Trump’s presidency, Hooven, who worked at a Virginia medical facility for veterans, feels deeply disappointed by the federal workforce reductions that resulted in his job loss.
Hooven expresses a profound sense of betrayal, believing that many other veterans who shared his political stance are similarly affected. “I feel like my life and the lives of so many like me, so many who have sacrificed so much for this country, are being destroyed,” Hooven lamented.
Since Trump’s inauguration, the administration’s directives have led to a significant reduction in the federal workforce, affecting veterans, who form approximately 30% of federal employees. Although exact numbers are elusive, estimates suggest that thousands of veterans might have faced job losses.
There are indications that the trend could continue. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where veterans constitute over a quarter of the workforce, is contemplating a massive reorganization that could see more than 80,000 positions cut, according to an internal document.
Several veterans who lost their positions and supported candidates across party lines describe this development as a significant breach of trust towards their military contributions. The sudden layoffs, often conveyed via emails citing inadequate job performance, have left many feeling unjustly judged despite previous positive reviews.
James Stancil, a 62-year-old Army veteran who lost his role as a supply technician at a VA hospital in Milwaukee, likens the experience to a harrowing and unanticipated fall. “And you just free fall and hit the ground — that’s it,” Stancil described. Despite voting for Democrat Kamala Harris last year, he believes the dismissals were misdirected. “I’m not dead weight. You’re tossing off the wrong stuff.”
Stancil, who had consistently received affirmative feedback, was stunned by the negative performance evaluation, a sentiment echoed by Hooven who also received positive assessments during his employment period. “I’ve been blindsided,” Hooven declares, describing the disruption as a complete upheaval with no opportunity for preparation.
Stancil believes an apology is warranted from Trump to the veterans who were fired. When questioned about this matter, a White House counselor, a previous member of Trump’s legal team, defended the dismissals. She emphasized fiscal responsibility to taxpayers while asserting care for veterans, albeit suggesting some may not currently fit federal employment requirements.
Veterans showed considerable support for Trump during the election, as revealed by the AP VoteCast, with nearly 60% backing him as opposed to about 40% for Harris. Nonetheless, Cynthia Williams, an Army veteran who lost her VA dispatcher role in Michigan, suggests that had veterans foreseen these developments, their votes might have differed.
Matthew Sims, who lost his position as a program support assistant, relocated with his family from Texas to Virginia. Although a Trump supporter who advocates for a leaner federal government, he criticizes the manner in which changes are implemented, akin to a “chainsaw approach” instead of the “surgical approach” he prefers.
Jared Evans, an Army veteran and recreation therapist, was let go unexpectedly during his probation period, having relocated from California for the job he cherished. The sole breadwinner, Evans describes the situation as unfamiliar and disorienting, leaving him feeling vulnerable and emotional. “You’re in an area to where you’re not really familiar with, and you’re just being left out to dry,” Evans confided.
