Cantwell, Democrats Urge Trump to Exempt Veterans Affairs From Hiring Freeze

Jan. 26--Sen. Maria Cantwell joined a group of 53 members of Congress on Tuesday in sending a letter asking that President Donald Trump exempt the entire Veterans Affairs Department and all veterans seeking federal jobs from his executive order freezing new federal hiring.

The group said in a press release that the hiring freeze will have devastating impacts on veterans and their families.

"A hiring freeze at the VA will delay veterans' access to health care and resolution of their disability claims, which for many of our nation's heroes provides a sole source of income to them and their families," the members wrote.

The group also called for Trump to exempt all veterans seeking employment from his hiring freeze, illustrating that veterans make up 31 percent of the federal workforce.

In a press release from Cantwell's office, she said the freeze will compound an existing workforce shortage in the Veterans Affairs office with some 45,000 current vacancies.

More than 40 percent of the Veterans Affairs senior officials are also eligible for retirement at a time when more than 450,000 veterans are waiting on benefits and service.

Earlier this week, Veterans Affairs Director Robert Snyder said he would continue hiring front-line caregivers in spite of Trump's executive order, but Cantwell said this should be expanded to the entire department.

"Mr. President, this hiring freeze will have a dramatic impact on the quality of health care and benefits veterans receive. We urge you to reconsider," the letter read.

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