Deluzio critical of proposed VA cuts listed in memo that Pittsburgh VA calls "false"
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System plans to cut nearly 10 percent of its employees in the near future, according to a memo posted on X by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio.
It comes as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is cutting thousands of jobs across the country as it tries to "right-size" the agency.
According to the memo, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System currently has 4,932 employees, and it wants to cut 481 jobs. The memo also said it has 609 vacancies, but it doesn't say how many would count toward the cuts.
The Pittsburgh VA calls the memo "false" and states that it was not authorized by Pittsburgh VA leadership.
A spokesperson for the Pittsburgh VA system said, in part, in a statement that, "No VA Pittsburgh Health Care System employees are being removed, and no VA Pittsburgh services will be affected." The statement added that all "VA medical facilities – including VA Pittsburgh Health Care System – are continuing to fill vacancies as needed."
The staff reductions are part of a major effort reported by The Washington Post to get rid of 35,000 health care positions, primarily unfilled. However, it comes on top of a loss of nearly 30,000 employees already this year.
"These are real risks to veterans. These are real risks to our community and the providers who want to deliver for veterans," Deluzio said at a press conference in Washington, D.C. "Will you be OK? Veterans are getting sicker, or god forbid, dying waiting for care because of your actions?"
Deluzio said that he is going to try to get answers to these cuts from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins.
KDKA also reached out to republican lawmakers for comment. A spokesperson for Senator Dave McCormick said, in part:
"Senator McCormick believes we have a solemn responsibility to faithfully care for those we send to fight our nation's battles. Secretary Collins has proposed a reorganization intended to help the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs better meet the needs of our veterans."
Veteran John Walker, of Greenville, relies on the VA centers in the Pittsburgh area for his health care.
"As far as my medical, everything is done through the VA," Walker said.
Even now, he struggles to get the services he needs with staffing shortages.
"Right now, it's a wait, but you can get it within a month, a couple months, an appointment that you need," Walker said.
It's why he can't imagine what would happen if the agency makes more cuts to the network.
"It would bother me a little bit," Walker said.
Walker feels there has to be another solution.
"I would hope that there would be other means to relieve their concerns," Walker said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services states the commonwealth is home to nearly 7,000 veterans, the fifth-largest vet population in the country.