WASHINGTON — An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is planning a major restructuring that involves cutting more than 80,000 jobs within the vast agency dedicated to serving military veterans.

During a meeting on Tuesday, VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek informed senior leaders that the goal is to shrink the agency’s workforce back to its 2019 size of just under 400,000 employees. This plan would require significant layoffs, a result of the agency’s growth during the Biden administration and the increased need for support for veterans affected by burn pits, as highlighted by the 2022 PACT Act.

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The memorandum instructs senior staff to prepare for an extensive reorganization set for August, aimed at “resizing and aligning the workforce with the agency’s mission and updated structure.” Furthermore, it encourages officials to work closely with the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency to “act decisively while maintaining a pragmatic and disciplined approach” to the goals established during the Trump administration. Government Executive was the first to disclose this internal communication.

Many veterans have already voiced their worries about the ongoing cuts at the VA, which have affected thousands of employees and numerous contracts. It’s worth noting that more than 25% of the VA’s workforce comprises veterans themselves.

The situation at the VA highlights the aggressive pursuit of significant cuts in federal agencies under the Trump administration’s DOGE initiative, led by billionaire Elon Musk, including those agencies that have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.

Michael Missal, who was the VA’s inspector general for nine years before being dismissed last month amid a broader purge of independent oversight officials by Trump, told the AP that the agency is already facing a shortage of “expertise” as senior staff leave or are reassigned under the president’s directives.

“The reality is that the VA will not be able to perform at its best for veterans, ultimately causing harm to those it serves,” stated Missal, who was a guest of Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, during Trump’s address to Congress.

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Instead of utilizing inspectors general to uncover waste and fraud within government agencies, Trump has adopted an adversarial stance towards them, ignoring laws that require a 30-day notice and specific justification for their dismissals. Missal is currently challenging his termination in court alongside seven other ousted inspectors general.

Missal described the VA as “a complex and challenging organization” that rivals some of the largest corporations in the U.S. He defended the efforts he made during his tenure to improve the agency’s efficiency and responsiveness to veterans, noting that oversight by the VA inspector general resulted in $45 billion in savings during his time there.

However, he expressed concern that Trump’s actions against inspectors general are undermining the ability of those who remain in their roles to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

In Congress, Democratic representatives have criticized the cuts at the VA and other agencies, while Republicans have approached the Trump administration’s changes with caution so far.

Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate committee overseeing veterans’ affairs, remarked that the Trump administration “has launched a full-scale offensive” against the advancements the VA has made in expanding services, particularly for veterans affected by toxic burn pits.