August 12, 2025
Recently the Trump Administration terminated union contracts at VA’s. The VA in Washington put out a statement saying that they’ve terminated union contracts for most bargaining unit employees. Also, back on April 25th, the VA worker’s paychecks no longer withheld money in paychecks for union dues.
From the VA website: VA has notified the following unions that, effective immediately, pursuant to the EO their contracts with VA have been terminated for most bargaining-unit employees: American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE); National Association of Government Employees (NAGE); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE); National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU); and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
-
Statement From The American Federation Of Government Workers:
“The real reason Collins wants AFGE out of the VA is because we have successfully fought against disastrous, anti-veteran recommendations from the Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission which would have shut down several rural VA hospitals and clinics, opposed the Trump administration’s plan dismantle veteran health care through the cutting of 83,000 jobs, and consistently educated the American people about how private, for-profit veteran healthcare is more expensive and results in worse outcomes for veterans,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said. “We don’t apologize for protecting veteran healthcare and will continue to fight for our members and the veterans they care for.”
-
Statement From The National VA Spokesman:
“Terminating contracts for VA unions – which have repeatedly opposed significant, bipartisan VA reforms and rewarded bad employees for misconduct – is a huge win for Veterans. Because of this decision, VA staff will spend more time with Veterans, VA facilities can focus on treating Veterans instead of hosting unions and VA can manage its staff according to Veterans’ needs, not union demands. During the Biden Administration, VA failed to address nearly all of its most serious problems, such as benefits backlogs and rising health care wait times. Under President Trump and Secretary Collins, VA is fixing these and other serious issues. What’s more, VA benefits and services are expanding and improving under President Trump. VA has opened 16 new health care clinics across the nation since Jan. 20, 2025.
Average VA health care wait times rose in five of six main areas under Biden. These wait times are now improving in four of six areas under President Trump. The backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits increased 24% under Biden and is down more than 37% under the second Trump Administration. Since Jan. 20, VA has offered Veterans nearly 1 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening, and weekend appointments are giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request would add billions to VA’s budget.
VA has made it easier and faster for VA-enrolled Veterans to access care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense.
VA has implemented major reforms to make it easier for survivors to get benefits, after serious problems during the Biden Administration. VA is processing record numbers of disability claims, reaching 1 million claims processed for FY25 on Feb. 20 and reaching 2 million claims by June — both achievements were done in record time. Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of Veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “We’re making sure VA resources and employees are singularly focused on the job we were sent here to do: providing top-notch care and service to those who wore the uniform.”
Click here to read full story from the VA.
Click here to read President Trump’s Executive Order.
