Washington, D.C., August 13, 2025

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has lost many important medical staff over the past eight years. This has raised concerns about the quality of care for U.S. veterans.
From 2017 to mid-2025, the VA lost about 2,000 registered nurses, along with hundreds of doctors, psychologists, and social workers. Many of these losses happened in critical areas such as intensive care units (ICUs), spinal cord injury units, and mental health services. These are areas where fewer staff can have a serious impact on patient safety.

Why Staff Are Leaving

Several factors have caused the loss of staff:

• Hiring freezes that slowed down new recruitment
• Job cuts caused by budget limits
• A shift toward using private sector services instead of in-house care

Veterans’ groups say that relying more on outside care takes attention and funding away from keeping strong medical teams inside VA hospitals.

How This Affects Veterans

Advocates for veterans warn that fewer staff could mean longer wait times, fewer services, and more pressure on the staff who remain.

“When you lose experienced ICU nurses or spinal cord specialists, you lose quality care for veterans who depend on those services,” said a spokesperson for the American Legion.

Some VA hospitals are already seeing longer delays for appointments, especially in rural areas where it is harder to hire replacements.

The VA’s Response

The VA admits there is a staffing problem but says it is working to solve it. Efforts include recruitment programs, partnerships with nursing schools, and offering bonuses to keep staff.

A VA representative said they are committed to providing high-quality care and are focusing on attracting skilled workers. However, experts say the VA must make bigger changes in hiring policies and pay if it wants to compete with private hospitals.

Looking Forward

The shortage comes at a time when veterans are aging and need more complex medical care. Experts believe the VA will need a mix of better pay, faster hiring, and stronger investment in specialized care units to fix the problem.

Veterans’ organizations are asking Congress to watch staffing levels closely to make sure those who served the country receive the timely and specialized care they deserve.