Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz Joins Democratic Members of Congress, Labor Partners, and Veterans to Stand Against Trump & Musk’s Dangerous Policies for VA
Washington, D.C. – Today, February 13, 2025, at 12:30 PM ET, Democratic Members of Congress, alongside national labor leaders representing veterans, veteran affairs (VA) employees, and veterans’ advocates, held a press conference outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)Headquarters to take a stand against the Trump Administration’s harmful executive orders that will negatively impact benefits for veterans nationwide and VA employees and the delivery of health care.
The press conference was attended by Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Mark Takano (CA-39), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and labor leaders from National Nurses United, National Veterans Affairs Council, and National Federal of Federal Employees.
To view the Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz’s remarks from the press conference, click here.
To view photos from the event, click here.
“What President Trump and Elon Musk are doing is dismantling the process through which veterans can benefit from the health care that they need, deserve, and have earned. What you will hear is that, “we are not cutting benefits.” In reality, what they are cutting are the people that process the benefits. What you will hear is that, “We are not cutting health care.” In reality, what they are doing is firing the nurses and staff that take care of you in the hospital,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “This is another delay-until-death strategy: delay the benefits, delay the care. Do not believe the dog whistle, do not believe the broad claims of waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency. What they are doing is dismantling the system by delaying until death.”
Background:
The Administration’s harmful executive orders for VA employees and veterans include:
- President Trump’s recently announced "'Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” which requires allowing only one employee to be hired for every four that departs, signaling the intent to reduce the workforce by 75%.
- The Administration’s continued VA hiring freeze on employees critical to delivering health care and benefits to veterans including housekeepers, benefits claim processors, and peer support for veterans experiencing homelessness or mental health crises.
VA’s hiring freeze impacts positions already facing shortages, including those that deliver veterans’ health care and benefits, and that work at VA cemeteries. The hiring freeze includes all positions at the Veterans Benefits Administration who continue to process historically high numbers of claims for benefits thanks to the PACT Act and critical hospital support staff necessary for the function of VA hospitals.
Background on the PACT Act:
In August 2022, President Biden, along with House and Senate Democrats, enacted the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act – the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed Veterans in more than 30 years.
Veterans in California's 25th Congressional District are already benefiting from the law. There are approximately 36,169 veterans in the district. The VA has received 3,850 claims under the PACT Act in the district as of July 19, 2024.