From service to struggle: Musk and Trump’s policies hurt veterans
Gabriel D’Alatri, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Connecticut, dedicated years of his life to serving his country. Now, he finds himself unemployed, caught in the crosshairs of sweeping job cuts under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
D’Alatri is not alone—he is one of thousands of veterans suddenly thrust into uncertainty. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veteran employment dropped by 175,000 in February, raising concerns about the impact of DOGE’s cost-cutting policies. Headhunters at Challenger, Gray & Christmas cited these policies as a key factor behind rising government job losses, disproportionately affecting veterans, who make up a significant portion of federal employees (MarketWatch).
“I dedicated my life to serving this country, and now I feel like I’ve been discarded,” D’Alatri told CT Insider, describing his frustration after being laid off alongside approximately 6,000 other veterans (CT Insider).
Veterans’ Jobs on the Chopping Block
The most drastic workforce reductions have hit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). An internal memo from the Trump administration revealed plans to cut over 80,000 jobs to revert to 2019 staffing levels. If enacted, these cuts would shrink the VA’s workforce to under 400,000 employees, sparking concerns about delays in medical care and benefits processing (AP News).
D’Alatri and other laid-off veterans are now advocating for job reinstatements, arguing that these policies contradict repeated promises from both Musk and Trump to support those who have served.
Military Industrial Layoffs and National Security Risks
Veterans working in defense manufacturing are also at risk. The Watervliet Arsenal, the oldest continuously operating Army manufacturing facility in the United States, is facing a potential 40% reduction in its civilian workforce—approximately 295 workers. The cuts, attributed to Pentagon budget reductions and DOGE’s efficiency measures, could reduce production output by up to 70% (Times Union).
“This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about national security,” said an anonymous union leader at the facility, according to a report. “When you gut production at a place like this, you slow down weapons manufacturing and put soldiers at risk.”
Cuts to Veterans’ Benefits: A New Battlefront
Musk has also proposed slashing federal entitlement programs, including Social Security, citing alleged widespread fraud. He claims the system is losing between $500 billion and $700 billion to fraudulent claims—figures that significantly exceed watchdog estimates (AP News).
Veterans’ organizations, including the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans (DAV), have criticized these proposals. Many veterans rely on Social Security benefits, particularly those who are elderly or disabled. In a joint statement, DAV argued that “these cuts would betray a commitment to those who have served, creating unnecessary hardship for thousands of veterans and their families.”
Healthcare and Telemedicine Setbacks
Access to healthcare is another growing concern. The Trump administration proposed a $2 billion reduction in VA contract services, a move that would directly impact medical care and mental health services for veterans (AP News).
Additionally, changes to telemedicine policies have made it harder for veterans to receive care remotely. For example, a VA doctor in California now faces a three-hour daily commute due to new regulations requiring in-person presence for services that were previously available via telemedicine. Critics argue that these policies disproportionately affect veterans in rural areas and those with mobility challenges (San Francisco Chronicle).
“The government has been encouraging telemedicine for years, and now they’re making it harder to use,” said a former VA nurse. “It doesn’t make sense, and veterans are the ones suffering for it.”
A Growing Outcry
The backlash against these policies has been swift. Protests have erupted outside VA hospitals and government offices, with veterans and their families demanding policy reversals. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns, with some calling for emergency legislation to protect veterans’ jobs and benefits.
For D’Alatri and thousands of other affected veterans, the fight is far from over. “We didn’t stop fighting when we left the service,” he said. “We’re going to keep fighting for our jobs, for our healthcare, and for the benefits we earned.”
As Washington debates these policies, veterans across the country wait to see whether their service will be honored—or if they will be left behind once again.
Amaury Cruz is a writer, political activist, and retired lawyer living in South Carolina. He has a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Juris Doctor.
Del servicio a la lucha: las políticas de Musk y Trump perjudican a los veteranos.
