The Department of Government Efficiency promised to eliminate waste and fraud. Instead, it has systematically dismantled the federal government’s support system for those who served. The initial round of cuts fired 2,400 VA probationary workers. Originally, DOGE planned to terminate 80,000 additional VA employees. That’s one in five staff members. Public backlash forced a revision to 30,000 cuts through attrition and retirements.

However, the damage extends far beyond the VA. More than 6,000 veterans have been fired from federal service across all agencies. This matters because 30% of the federal workforce consists of veterans. Over half of those veterans have service-connected disabilities. At the current pace, up to 50,000 veterans could lose their federal jobs within six months.

DOGE initially terminated 585 VA contracts in March 2025. After public pressure, that number dropped to 447. But the damage was done. Service-disabled veteran-owned businesses lost $2 billion in contracts. That represents 70% of all contract cuts at the VA.

The cancelled services weren’t bureaucratic fluff. They included sterility certification for medical equipment, PTSD research programs, electronic health records upgrades, radiation safety monitoring, cancer treatment development, blood sample analysis, and suicide prevention research. These are the programs veterans depend on for healthcare and recovery. In Wyoming, a Marine veteran with a glowing performance review was fired from a mental health center serving veterans in a state where suicide rates run 50% higher than the national average.

Elon Musk and DOGE leadership claimed between $150 billion and $170 billion in savings. They later revised this to $140 billion as of March 30. But independent verification tells a different story. The Musk Watch DOGE Tracker found only $7.7 billion in verifiable savings as of late March.

Meanwhile, Treasury Department data shows something even more damaging to DOGE’s credibility. Trump had spent $155 billion more than Biden at the same point in his presidency. Additionally, VA contract spending remains on pace to exceed the FY2024 total of $67 billion. The efficiency initiative isn’t delivering efficiency. It’s delivering chaos.

VA Secretary Doug Collins released videos assuring veterans that “no cuts” would happen at the VA. Then the layoffs began. Collins now claims mission-critical positions remain protected. He testified before Congress defending the cuts as necessary to “increase productivity and eliminate waste.”

But the facts undermine his message. The Veterans Crisis Line lost support staff, despite official denials. Wait times are increasing across the VA system. And 11,273 VA employees applied for deferred resignation. The top categories? 1,300 nurses, 800 medical support assistants, and 300 social workers. These aren’t paper-pushers. They’re the frontline workers who care for veterans daily.

Congress passed the PACT Act to expand healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and other hazards. The law triggered a hiring surge at the VA. In 2023 alone, the agency brought on 62,000 new employees, including 12,000 nurses. Over 400,000 veterans enrolled in VA healthcare last year as a direct result.

DOGE’s cuts effectively reverse this progress. The 66,000 VA job vacancies that existed before DOGE began its work will only grow. Veterans who finally gained access to healthcare under the PACT Act now face longer wait times, reduced services, and uncertainty about their coverage. The bipartisan promise of the PACT Act is being dismantled by executive action.

VoteVets, the largest progressive veterans organization, hasn’t stayed silent. The group launched a “DOGE Tipline” for veterans and VA employees affected by the cuts. They’re documenting cases of service disruption, job losses, and benefit delays. This information will fuel campaign messaging throughout 2026.

The organization also released research showing the political stakes. Travis Tazelaar, VoteVets political director, noted that “the average voter looks at a veteran and doesn’t see them as hard conservative right or hard liberal left.” That positioning becomes even more powerful when Republicans are actively cutting veteran services. Veteran Democrats can credibly say they’ll protect what their opponents are destroying.

Trump’s approval rating sits between 36% and 44% across major polls. That’s similar to November 2017, right before Democrats flipped 40 House seats in the 2018 Blue Wave. Economic approval has dropped to 31-36%, the lowest of his second term. The generic congressional ballot shows Democrats leading by 4-5 points.

Among independents, the numbers are even worse for Republicans. Navigator Research found Trump at -38 approval with independent voters. Emerson polling shows moderate candidates outperforming progressive or MAGA-aligned candidates by 17-18 points with this group. Veteran Democrats fit the moderate profile that independents prefer.

Veteran Democrats already hold a structural advantage in swing districts. They outperform non-veteran Democrats by 3-8 points with independent voters. They neutralize Republican attacks on national security. And they project the kind of service-oriented leadership that resonates across party lines.

DOGE adds a new dimension to this advantage. Veteran candidates can speak from personal experience about what military service means. They can look voters in the eye and ask a simple question: Why is the party that claims to support veterans firing them from their jobs and cutting their benefits? That’s not a political attack. It’s a factual description of current policy.

Several Veteran Democrats are already positioned to capitalize on this issue. In Pennsylvania’s 7th District, Marine veteran Ryan Crosswell received a VoteVets endorsement in July 2025. He can tie DOGE directly to local veteran job losses. In Nebraska’s 2nd District, Navy veteran Kishla Askins brings direct experience as a former VA employee. She knows exactly how these cuts affect veterans on the ground.

The DCCC recently expanded its target list to include 18 additional Republican-held seats. Many of these districts have significant veteran populations. Candidates who can authentically discuss veteran issues will have a natural advantage. Those who served themselves will have an even greater one.

The DOGE cuts aren’t finished. More layoffs are expected throughout 2026. Each new round of cuts provides fresh material for Democratic campaigns. VoteVets and allied organizations are building infrastructure to turn veteran anger into electoral action.

For Veteran Democrats, the message writes itself. They served their country. They know what veterans need. And they’re watching Republicans dismantle the support system that veterans earned through their sacrifice. That’s not a partisan argument. It’s a statement of fact that resonates with voters across the political spectrum.