Donald Trump’s reckless slash-and-burn campaign through the federal government is jeopardizing veterans’ health care and leaving all 139 VA medical centers severely short-staffed. At every turn, Trump hasn’t hesitated to throw our servicemembers under the bus to serve his political agenda. Given Trump’s history of demeaning, insulting, and attacking those who put their lives on the line for this country, is anyone surprised Trump doesn’t give a rat’s ass about veterans’ health care? 

In response to Trump’s dangerous cuts to the VA, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s administration has been nothing but one broadside after another against America’s veterans. Now, Trump is going after their health care with his reckless campaign of mass firings. In a slap in the face to the over nine million vets who rely on the VA, Trump has saddled every single VA medical center in the country with drastic staffing shortages and jeopardized millions of veterans’ access to critical medical care. Trump and the GOP have proven once again they don’t give a damn about America’s most important promises to the men and women who served.”  

Donald Trump has made it clear he views American servicemembers as “suckers” and “losers” — dismissing their sacrifices. Even before he entered politics, Trump worked to discriminate against veterans and pushed to ban disabled veterans from operating stands outside his 5th Avenue building. 

Trump’s attack on the VA isn’t new. This term alone, Trump has: 

• Announced his plan to cut 30,000 VA staff
• Risked VA funding dedicated to advancing treatments for cancer, drug withdrawal, and more
• Gutted the VA crisis hotline, stranding veterans in need during life-or-death situations
• Jeopardized veterans’ medical care by throwing the VA into chaos with incompetent leadership 
• Closed units at VA medical centers during his campaign of mass firings and funding cuts

Veterans have made it crystal clear that they don’t support Trump and his reckless agenda. It’s about time Trump starts listening to our veterans and doing right by them. 

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