Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) says he will put a hold on President Trump’s nominees to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs to protest cuts at the agency that provides lifelong healthcare services to military veterans.
“Talking to veterans, people that I served with as well as seeing some of what’s happening in Arizona, I decided that whatever tool I have to fix the situation, I’m going to use it. And this is one of the few tools I have at this point,” Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, told The Associated Press.
There is currently one nominee to the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Senate’s executive calendar: Richard Topping, who is picked to serve as the VA’s chief financial officer.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that the department is planning to cut over 80,000 jobs to return to its pre-pandemic staffing level of under 400,000 employees.
The Trump administration fired 2,400 probationary employees at the VA last month.
Thirteen positions at the department require Senate confirmation to be filled on a long-term basis.
Gallego is a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
