Republicans have expressed concern over veteran layoffs coming from the Pentagon as they make up a large part of the federal workforce being targeted by Elon Musk.
GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Monday urging the Department of Defense to limit veteran layoffs, labeling cuts that will weaken defense capabilities “unacceptable.”
Kiggans is a former Navy helicopter pilot who represents a district with the second-largest veteran population, which is exceptionally vulnerable to the expected layoffs.
“These layoffs are not just a loss of jobs but also a loss of the skilled workforce that is essential to ensuring our defense readiness,” Kiggans wrote. “I was encouraged to hear President Trump pledged that he would work to minimize job losses for veterans. I hope the DoD is following that promise.”
“At a time when we are seeing global instability rise and increased threats from adversaries like China and Russia, it is vital that we protect our skilled workforce and focus on maintaining a robust and capable Department of Defense,” Kiggans continued.
The congresswoman asked three things of Hegseth: Prioritize veterans in workforce reductions, provide timely support for transitioning veterans, and use veterans to strengthen national security.
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has aimed its efforts at slashing government agencies and shrinking the federal workforce, leading to thousands of layoffs across the country. Late last month, the DoD announced that 5,400 probationary workers would be fired in addition to a hiring freeze.
Musk and the Department of Justice have been met with lawsuits claiming the billionaire overreached when accessing guarded government data, which includes sensitive information about the American public.
This letter comes after members of Congress across the country have held town halls, where they have repeatedly heard increasing concerns over DOGE cuts. Much of the GOP continues to relentlessly back Musk’s moves.
“I’m not a Democrat, but I am worried about the veterans,” a constituent told Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) last weekend at a town hall meeting.
Democrats have leaned into highlighting the cuts DOGE has made across the federal workforce because many of them plan on bringing people who have been hurt by these cuts as guests to Trump’s first joint address to Congress of his second administration on Tuesday evening.