WASHINGTON — Doug Collins, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, defended the mass firing of VA workers last month as the Trump administration’s solution to making the agency more accountable and responsive to veterans.

Collins, who has served as VA secretary for four weeks, also blamed lawmakers for making the VA a “punching bag” for criticism while pouring billions of dollars into the agency without making meaningful improvements.

“The union bosses, legacy media, even members of Congress who have complained for years about the VA not being efficient are now complaining when we’re actually trying to provide solutions,” he said Monday in an interview about the layoffs of new VA workers in February.

Collins said publicity over the layoffs is failing to put into context the reason for them. The workforce reductions ordered by President Donald Trump are a response to voters who demanded “generational change in Washington, D.C.”

“In my view, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t be the constant critic of the VA and not look for solutions when they’re offered,” he said. “We’re not in a position anymore to say that what you have is not working, so you just have to keep it the same.”

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins answers questions from senators on Jan. 21, 2025, during his confirmation hearing. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Collins countered backlash from Democratic lawmakers over the firings of thousands of probationary workers at the VA as part of a reduction in force across the federal government that is expected to continue through the summer. Approximately 80,000 job terminations are planned at the VA through August after 5,000 agency workers were lost last month through firings and a hiring freeze.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen Democratic senators sent a letter to Collins on Monday that warned such a reduction will impact the VA’s ability to deliver benefits and services to veterans. The senators wrote their concern is heightened by the VA’s historic surge in enrollment under the PACT Act, which expanded health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service.

Senators who signed the letter include Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Charles Schumer of New York, the Senate minority leader; and Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Since the PACT Act was signed into law in 2022, more than 700,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care, according to the agency. The number of outpatient visits to VA facilities has grown by 16%, and there has been close to a 24% increase in veterans receiving disability compensation, according to the senators’ letter.

“Fewer staff to provide outpatient appointments will cause veterans to wait longer for care, and the costs of that care will only increase over time as their medical conditions worsen,” they wrote.

But Collins maintained the workforce reductions will not affect the rank-and-file workers who process claims, deliver health care and deliver benefits.

“I’m very impressed by our workforce and their wanting to do good. But sometimes I think the layers of bureaucracy actually keep us from doing it,” he said.

Collins blamed Democratic lawmakers and the media for giving heightened attention to the layoffs of veterans when the impact of job loss on veterans in the private sector is rarely discussed.

“I hear very little when Southwest Airlines lays off 15% of their workforce. Nobody really mentions the veterans at that point. Nobody mentioned the veterans for that matter at Caterpillar,” he said, referring to layoffs at the farm equipment company between 2013 and 2017.

Veterans make up about 30% of the federal workforce, which numbers more than 2 million employees.

Collins said he finds it ironic that as the Trump administration, with support from VA leaders, has moved to make significant reforms at the VA through workforce reductions and an anticipated reorganization, Democratic lawmakers are pushing back.

Collins said the practice of VA spending more money and hiring more staff is not improving the quality of health care or making the system more efficient. The VA has a $469 billion budget and more than 480,000 workers.

The goal now is to reduce staff to 399,000, the same size as the workforce in 2019.

Collins said the next round of job reductions at VA will be more strategic, after the surprise firing of 2,400 personnel.

“We’re putting together a very deliberative process with teams, with all career VA employees, but also senior executives and staff,” he said.

But Collins said it will be up to him — as VA secretary — to manage the reductions.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to me. As the president said, it’s the heads of the agencies, the secretaries, and his Cabinet, they’re going to be making decisions,” he said.