RICHMOND, Va. — State and federal lawmakers are calling on President Donald Trump to reconsider his recent executive order imposing a freeze on federal hiring, citing concerns over the potential impact on veterans’ care.
On January 20, President Trump issued a memorandum halting the hiring of federal employees, with an exception for positions critical to national security. The order stipulated that all vacant positions, effective noon on that day, should remain unfilled. While the intention was to reassess federal hiring processes, the freeze has sparked significant concern among lawmakers, especially regarding its impact on veterans’ facilities such as the Richmond VA Medical Center.
According to Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, who spoke with officials at the Richmond VA, several job offers were rescinded due to the hiring freeze. “There’s a wide variety of chaos right now that is causing concern among seniors, children, everybody,” McClellan said. She expressed her concern that the freeze could disrupt essential services for veterans and their families.
While the freeze originally applied to all hospital staff, pressure from lawmakers and veterans’ advocates led to an exemption for medical personnel. However, other critical roles, such as housekeeping and food service positions, remain excluded from the exemption. McClellan emphasized that these jobs are essential to ensuring proper healthcare services. “You can’t do surgery if you don’t have sterilized equipment and a clean space to do it. Patients need to eat. They have care coordination,” she explained.
Senator Tim Kaine, also a Democrat, voiced concerns about the broader implications of the freeze, particularly its effect on the Veterans Benefits Administration. “The freeze will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits,” Kaine said.
In response to these concerns, Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to the Trump administration, urging the president to reconsider or revise the hiring freeze to prevent disruptions in services for veterans and their families.
While the freeze has generated significant pushback, Republican Congressman Rob Wittman defended the decision, acknowledging the dedication of Virginia’s federal workforce. “Virginians in the federal workforce are dedicated public servants, and I thank them for their service,” Wittman said in a statement. “It’s understandable for a new president to temporarily freeze federal hiring to reassess processes and thoroughly vet applicants. I am hopeful it will only be a brief pause.” He also pointed out that critical roles at the Richmond VA, including healthcare professionals and law enforcement, were exempt from the freeze.
Congresswoman McClellan has urged those affected by the hiring freeze to contact her office for assistance, offering support via email or phone at (804) 486-1840.
As the situation continues to develop, lawmakers are emphasizing the need for a balance between reassessing federal hiring processes and ensuring that veterans receive the care and services they deserve.
