1. The Political Reclassification of Federal Workers

• Understanding GS vs. Schedule F Employees:
  • GS (General Schedule) Employees:
    • Merit-based hiring process.
    • Protected from political interference.
    • Have rights to appeal wrongful termination.
  • Schedule F Employees:
    • Politically appointed and can be hired or fired at will.
    • No appeal rights or civil service protections.
    • Can be replaced for ideological or partisan reasons.
• Why This Move is Dangerous:
  • This would remove long-standing protections for federal employees, making them vulnerable to political purges.
  • The administration in power could replace career professionals with loyalists, weakening government integrity.
  • It could silence whistleblowers and experts who prioritize ethical governance over political agendas.
• The Long-Term Consequences:
  • A fully politicized federal workforce would allow extreme policies to be implemented without resistance.
  • It would create instability in government agencies, affecting everything from policy enforcement to veterans’ healthcare.

2. The Plan to Reduce VA Workforce by 30%

• Targeting VA Employees:
  • The goal is to cut nearly one-third of the workforce.
  • This will lead to longer wait times, understaffed hospitals, and reduced care for veterans.
  • The elimination of training personnel means a decline in medical competency and best practices.
• Weaponizing “DEI” as a Justification:
  • The official reason given for these cuts is the elimination of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) training.
  • However, the training being cut is not just DEI—it includes medical best practices, ethical standards, and procedural training.
  • These training programs were implemented to prevent medical errors, including fatal mistakes that occurred in the past.
• Historical Context:
  • During the early Iraq and Afghanistan wars, veterans returning home faced medical malpractice at the VA, including amputations of the wrong limbs.
  • The introduction of comprehensive training programs was a direct response to these failures.
  • Cutting these programs now risks a repeat of those same catastrophic mistakes.

3. The Bigger Picture: Breaking the Largest Union in America

• The Real Target: Federal Employee Unions
  • The VA workforce includes a significant number of unionized employees.
  • Weakening or dismantling these unions would give the administration more control over hiring and firing.
  • Unions have historically been a check on government overreach, protecting employees from exploitation.
• Why This Matters Beyond the VA:
  • If successful, this strategy could extend to other government agencies.
  • The goal is to erode worker protections across the federal workforce, setting a precedent for privatization and deregulation.
  • A weakened unionized workforce means lower wages, fewer benefits, and job insecurity—not just for VA employees but for all government workers.

Conclusion: The Dangerous Precedent of Politicizing Government

• The Three Major Threats Identified:
  1. Turning federal jobs into political appointments – This undermines democracy by allowing administrations to replace professionals with partisan loyalists.
  2. Cutting VA services under false pretenses – This puts veterans’ lives at risk by eliminating essential medical training and personnel.
  3. Breaking up federal unions – Weakening the largest worker protections in the country makes all employees more vulnerable to exploitation.
• The Final Message:
  • These moves are not about efficiency or reducing government waste.
  • They are about consolidating power, silencing opposition, and rolling back decades of labor and healthcare protections.
  • If these efforts succeed, they will not stop at the VA—this could be the beginning of a broader erosion of public services, employee rights, and governmental accountability.

This is not just about veterans. This is about who controls the government, the workforce, and ultimately, the future of public service in America.