#TheGremlinZoo #IRS #VA

From WTOP News.com: IRS begins RIF process, VA renews ‘deferred resignation’ offer

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/04/irs-begins-rif-process-va-renews-deferred-resignation-offer/

New Wired article about DOGE at VA

Wired just released a new article <https://www.wired.com/story/doge-department-of-veterans-affairs-ai/> by Vittoria Elliott about DOGE's incursion into VA, in particular the disruption that muskrat Sahil Lavingia is causing within the Office of the CTO's VA.gov team by blustering around like a bull in a china shop. It's a good insight into how the muskrats are working at government agencies. I encourage you to read it.
#politics #USPol #VA #DOGE
Archive link available here: https://blog.kamens.us/2025/04/04/new-wired-article-about-doge-at-va/

The #TrumpMusk regime is decimating the #VA.

These #DOGE operatives appear to have no work experience that’s remotely close to the VA in terms of its scale or complexity. VA: administers all the govt benefits afforded to vets/their families for ~10M ppl: EDU, loans, disab pymts, & HC. Lavingia is Gumroad's CEO, a platform that helps creatives sell their work & takes a cut of each sale. More recently, Lavingia launched Flexile, a tool to manage & pay contractors.

#USPol https://www.wired.com/story/doge-department-of-veterans-affairs-ai/

“They’re Forcing Us Out”: VA Doctors Speak Out as the System Collapses

"In this video, I break down the chaos unfolding inside the Department of Veterans Affairs: why physicians are leaving in droves, how Return to Office mandates are breaking families, and why the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is gaslighting the public about suicide prevention."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmuGc-ASnpY

About yesterday’s Senate “shadow hearing”

As I noted previously, I was invited to testify at a "shadow hearing" held by the Democrats on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, about the firings happening at VA.
#politics #USPol #VA #Trump #DOGE
https://blog.kamens.us/2025/04/03/about-yesterdays-senate-shadow-hearing/

From Cliff Cash on Ig:

#Veterans please send in your stories about how #Trump is hurting you and your friends and family!

Cliff Cash is organizing protests online and IRL against Trump and #Musk

All neurology appointments today.

The VA has done a great job staying on top of this category for me.

They have me currently seeing 3 different neurosurgeons, 1 neuromuscular specialist, and 1 neurologist in the private sector and the VA neurology team is coordinating and communicating everything that is going on.

The Veteran Affairs is going through some tough stuff right now. However, they are continuing to stay on top of things in a timely manner and are making sure vets get care when they need it.

Post number 500 for Washington Horizon: #GAO says #VA was right to reject SDVOSB's proposal over missing price line items in #wheelchair transport RFP; SBA cert of competency would not apply. #protest https://buff.ly/ovOH26e

#TheGremlinZoo #USPol #VA #Veterans

From CNN.com: ‘A betrayal of the government’: Congressional leaders say VA needs to better serve families of veterans who die by suicide

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/31/politics/veteran-affairs-suicide-invs

Trump’s EO applies to depts & agencies that employ 67% of fed employees & to 75% of unionized fed WKRs. ~1/3: fed WKRs: vets.

Largest Fed union: “fighting back” against ETrump - filing grievances to block Trump policies. VA’s unions have filed 70 nat & loc grievances over his policies —an aver >1/day.

It's explicit pol retaliation. WKRs at the VA -pushed back on #TrumpMusk’s orders to reduce staffing*svcs to vets in need of the HC svcs -VA provides.
#VA #Unions #USPol https://prospect.org/labor/2025-03-31-trump-stomps-workers/

I have been invited to testify (virtually) at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs about firings at VA. The hearing will begin at 3:00pm Eastern on Wednesday, April 2. The hearing was organized by the Democratic committee members; although all members of the committee are invited to attend, the Republican members are not expected to show up. The hearing will be live-streamed on Twitter (https://x.com/SVACDems) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SVACDems/).
#politics #USPol #VA

"This piece contains graphic descriptions of trauma and suicide. If you are a veteran in crisis, please call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. You are not alone.

My name is Kris Goldsmith. I’m a U.S. Army veteran, a suicide attempt survivor, and someone who’s spent the last 18 years fighting for the lives of my fellow veterans. What you’re about to read isn’t an academic article—it’s a warning. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when the federal government abandons those who served. I lived it. And now, I’m watching a new administration recreate the very conditions that nearly killed me."
Veteran lays out the potential for deadly impact as the chucklefucks in the Musk/Trump regime continue to degrade the Veterans Administration.
https://onoffense.substack.com/p/trump-and-musks-war-on-government
#Veterans #USPolitics #VA #Musk #Trump #Suicide #VA

#TheGremlinZoo #USPol #VA #Veterans

From CNN.com: ‘Heartless and dangerous’: Proposal to automate VA call centers part of aggressive layoff plan, sources say

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/28/politics/veterans-affairs-call-centers-automation-layoffs?cid=ios_app