# VA to lay off more than 76,000 employees, leaked memo says

The  has initiated a plan to lay off at least 76,000 employees to comply with  calling for broader cuts to the federal workforce.

The new round of cuts could impact even more federal workers than the first wave, which targeted probationary employees.

The memo, sent by VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek to undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and other top officials at the apartment, sets out a goal to return its staffing to 2019 levels of 399,957 employees as part of a "reduction in force and reorganization plan," according to a copy of the memo shared with USA TODAY. That would require a cut of at least 76,000 department employees, according to a VA  last month that listed employees at 479,000 before more than 2,000 were laid off before the  administration's first phase of layoffs.

Syrek's memo calls for the VA to "coordinate actions with DOGE" and the rest of the  to implement the cuts.

In a video statement, VA Secretary Doug Collins said health care for veterans would not be impacted, and that hiring would continue for 300,000 "mission critical positions." He called the cut-down "a pragmatic and disciplined approach to eliminating waste and bureaucracy, increasing efficiency and improving healthcare benefits and services to veterans."

"We'll be making major changes, so get used to it," he said.

The Department of Veterans did not respond to a request for comment.

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