U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) wrote a letter to Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Secretary Collins regarding the costly decision on August 6th to terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees. The July issue of VA’s Workforce Dashboard shows that, for this fiscal year, the net losses for veteran-facing employees across VA are estimated at over 8,700. Castor previously met with Secretary Collins in April to discuss protecting health care for veterans and the veteran workforce. 

“We owe a debt to America’s veterans and their families. We must fund the VA, protect veterans’ health care, support our VA workforce and ensure that veterans and their families get the benefits they deserve,” said Rep. Castor. “This should not be political – and yet Donald Trump and Republicans are going after veteran workers, undermining the VA, and cutting health care and SNAP at a time when more and more veterans count on these programs. It is un-American and betrays the patriotic Tampa Bay community.”

Castor wrote, “It is clear that your actions as Secretary are negatively impacting the VA workforce. VA is attritting employees that are critical to VA’s ability to meet its mission to serve veterans at an alarming rate. Your recent decision to terminate collective bargaining agreements for the vast majority of VA workers will most certainly lead to more employees choosing to leave the Department and fewer prospective workers choosing VA as an employer.”

Castor continued, “Veterans’ access to their earned care and benefits will be affected. This is of particular concern to me, as Hillsborough County, Florida has the 2nd highest veteran population in the United States. There are roughly 125,000 veterans enrolled in the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital alone, the highest number of veterans served in the state of Florida. As I mentioned in our April discussion, Tampa Bay is a special place because our community is rich in veterans with very high expectations and a committed workforce. The actions you are taking are actively undermining that high quality of service that our veterans need and deserve.”

The full letter can be found here and below.

The Honorable Douglas A. Collins

Secretary Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Ave NW

Washington, D.C. 20420

RE: Workforce Losses That Impact Veterans and Veteran Care in the Tampa and Bay Pines VA Healthcare Systems

Dear Secretary Collins,

Thank you for your visit to the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in April to meet with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees, patients and members of our Tampa Bay congressional delegation. Since our meeting, I have closely tracked VA’s funding and workforce policies under your leadership, both nationally and locally in my community. I write to you now with extreme concern regarding the high volume of departures of employees, including those who serve in veteran-facing and mission critical roles, across the VA. To that end, I request detailed data regarding the VA workforce to assess the impact of attrition on veteran access to care and benefits in the Tampa Bay area.  We are a patriotic community with a reputation of excellence in serving veterans, and home to the Tampa VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and VISN 8, the VA’s largest system of hospitals and clinics serving over 1.4 million veterans.

During our April meeting and in congressional hearings and other public appearances, you repeatedly stated that changes you are making at VA would not impact the delivery of care and benefits to veterans. However, the July issue of VA’s Workforce Dashboard shows that, for this fiscal year, the net losses for veteran-facing employees across VA are estimated at over 8,700. This is a stark number compared to the Biden Administration, which added a net 8,700 employees during the same period in FY 2024. The current number of employee losses under your leadership includes mission-essential jobs. Specifically, you have lost over: 2,129 registered nurses, 1,283 medical support assistants, 751 physicians, and 1,294 veteran claim examiners. In a May 5 correspondence I received from your office, it was reported to me that 41 employees left the Tampa and St. Petersburg VA Healthcare System. 

The VA needs a strong and growing workforce due to the care being provided under the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This new law helps provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. The VA expanded VA health care to millions of Veterans—years earlier than called for by the PACT Act - and it has been a godsend for Veterans and their families.

It is clear that your actions as Secretary are negatively impacting the VA workforce. VA is attritting employees that are critical to VA’s ability to meet its mission to serve veterans at an alarming rate. Your recent decision to terminate collective bargaining agreements for the vast majority of VA workers will most certainly lead to more employees choosing to leave the Department and fewer prospective workers choosing VA as an employer. Veterans’ access to their earned care and benefits will be affected. This is of particular concern to me, as Hillsborough County, Florida has the 2^nd highest veteran population in the United States. There are roughly 125,000 veterans enrolled in the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital alone, the highest number of veterans served in the state of Florida. As I mentioned in our April discussion, Tampa Bay is a special place because our community is rich in veterans with very high expectations and a committed workforce. The actions you are taking are actively undermining that high quality of service that our veterans need and deserve.

As the representative from the Tampa Bay area, I am requesting a more detailed understanding of the current workforce situation in my district so that I can assess the impact to the veterans I represent. Specifically, I ask for data on all employee departures from January 1, 2025, through August 8, 2025, within the Tampa VA and Bay Pines VA Healthcare Systems, respectively. The data should include: 

• Occupation
• Job title
• Grade and step level
• Veteran status
• Disability status
• Military spouse status
• Years in service at VA
• Facility/location
• Reason for departure
• Whether the employee was retirement-eligible
• Whether the employee participated in the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP)
• Whether the employee was terminated
• Whether the employee resigned

I also request detailed data on the number and type of veteran appointments cancelled or rescheduled due to staffing shortages at the Tampa VA and Bay Pines VA Healthcare Systems since January 1, 2025. 

This information is critical to understanding workforce trends and ensuring the needs of veterans in Tampa Bay continue to be met.

I urge your prompt attention to this request and look forward to your detailed response by August 15, 2025.