A Virginia Republican congresswoman is calling on the secretary of defense to limit veteran layoffs within the Department of Defense.
Rep. Jen Kiggans represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes one of the largest military populations in the commonwealth.
Kiggans, a Navy veteran herself, is urging Pete Hegseth, secretary of the Defense Department, to prevent “undue harm” to veterans stemming from workforce reductions within the department.
The congresswoman’s letter follows an announcement that the Defense Department would be reevaluating its probationary workforce as part of President Donald Trump’s federal reform plan.
Kiggans highlighted the department’s plan to reduce its civilian workforce by 5%-8%, noting that, according to Office of Personnel Management data, the department employed more than 330,000 veterans in fiscal year 2020.
The congresswoman worries the workforce reductions will have a “significant impact” on national security and veterans, especially those residing in her district.
“As you are aware, the DoD has laid off thousands of employees, many of whom are veterans who have dedicated their careers to serving our country,” Kiggans wrote. “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.”
The congresswoman expressed concern for veterans, who are subjected to the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, which could be compounded by layoffs.
In addition, she underscored that the layoffs are coming at a time of “global instability” – concerning her.
“At a time when we are seeing global instability and rising 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,” the congresswoman wrote.
Kiggans is asking Hegseth to prioritize veterans in workforce reductions by ensuring that the groups employed by the DoD are not disproportionately affected by any layoffs, underscoring their “unique skills and education,” which she says are vital to “maintaining the strength” of the military.
She is also asking the secretary to provide support for transitioning veterans by offering them priority access to other federal positions, specifically roles that “leverage their expertise and commitment” to national security.
Lastly, the congresswoman wants veterans to be used to “strengthen national security.” Kiggans claims “reductions risk weakening” defense capabilities, especially as the country faces growing global threats.
“Ensuring that DoD personnel – especially those with military – experience – remain in positions where they can contribute to our national security is essential,” the congresswoman wrote.
Kiggans follows several calls from Democratic Virginia congressional members warning against workforce reductions and their significant impact on Virginians.
