Trump’s proposed budget cuts will hit veterans with a lot of force. Here are some things that are at risk at the current time:

1. Eroding the federal workforce. Veterans make up nearly 30% of federal workers (and 6.1% of the total population) so they will be disproportionately affected by federal worker cuts.
2. Gutting VA healthcare. The Biden administration was committed to fully staffing the VA healthcare system, and now that same system is facing the loss of 83,000 jobs.
3. Destaffing the suicide hotline. There is already an average of 17.6 veteran suicides PER DAY in the US and that’s with a hotline in operation. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among veterans who are under 45 years old. Can you imagine what will happen if that life-saving assistance is just…gone?
4. Losing research. Current social science research about substance use, mental health, and other issues as they relate to veterans has been suspended, as has research on how poverty and race impact veterans’ health outcomes.
5. Looming cuts to other benefits. This includes Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, food assistance, WIC, and so forth.

During Trump’s first term, he said he was committed to expanding veterans’ services. Now, apparently, he doesn’t give a shit.

Lubbock, Texas
photographed 4.19.2025