One Year of DOGE at the VA — The Numbers Are In
Veterans News Update: January 27, 2026
The Gist
40,000+ VA employees gone in one year — 88% from Veterans Health Administration
Mental health wait times now 35+ days nationally, exceeding community care threshold; some states over 50 days
Blumenthal’s “Breaking the Pact” report documents 1,000 physicians, 3,000 nurses, 700 social workers lost
Therapy sessions capped at 8-24 visits at some facilities regardless of clinical need — veterans being cut off mid-treatment
DOGE’s AI contract tool hallucinated values, canceled ~600 contracts including cancer research and foreclosure prevention
CBO budget options (means testing, ending TDIU at 67) remain proposals — NOT law, but keep resurfacing
Collins testifies tomorrow (Jan 28, 3:30 PM EST) before Senate VA Committee on VHA reorganization
