Nurses, doctors and other staff providing care to veterans through the Veterans Bureau have been reported from the Trump administration, according to an email from a VA leader sent Friday. He is not eligible for a postponed resignation offer.
The nurses were part of the group that received the offer first, but their union advised to accept it. They were warned that a large departure would have a major impact on the care provided to the 9.1 million registered veterans.
The Associated Press reported that it reviewed an email containing letters from the VA's Human Resources department, with over 130 job titles identified as “VA exemption requests” being placed on the spreadsheet list.
“It seems like almost everyone,” said Mary Jean Burke, a physiotherapist and leader of the American Federation of Government Employees. “We're working to decide who qualifies.”
Occupations that the VA deemed ineligible for the offer include laundry workers, chefs, nurses, pharmacists and even doctors.
Full-time probation employees who were about to retire in 2025 will be deemed eligible as per the letter.
On Thursday, a federal judge extended the deadline for federal workers to accept the Trump administration's sweeping takeover offer.
Previously, the government had set a Thursday deadline to determine whether federal workers wanted to undertake the contract. They can do so simply by replying to “resignation.”
However, they will have to accept the deal until this Monday as the court considers bids blocking offers at Monday's hearing.
“The rules are changing every day,” said Ilma Westmoreland, director of Veteran Affairs at National Nurse United.
She added that the VA is already facing a severe shortage of nurses and “will never abandon veterans.”
The hill reached the Trump administration for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
