VA HEALTH CARE JOBS EXEMPT FROM 2023 FEDERAL HIRING FREEZE
Many federal positions are facing a hiring freeze but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) looks like it’ll be affected less than other government entities. Hundreds of thousands of VA health care jobs are being given an exemption from the freeze in a move that experts hope will help Veterans maintain their access to healthcare resources.
VA Health Care Jobs Exemption: 300,000+ Positions in 2023
On Thursday, Veterans Affairs officials announced that over 300,000 VA health care jobs are exempt from the federal hiring freeze ordered by President Trump, deeming them essential to public health and operations.
The hiring freeze from President Trump states the following:
“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees, to be applied throughout the executive branch. As part of this freeze, no Federal civilian position that is vacant at noon on January 20, 2025, may be filled, and no new position may be created except as otherwise provided for in this memorandum or other applicable law. Except as provided below, this freeze applies to all executive departments and agencies regardless of their sources of operational and programmatic funding.”
Furthermore, a memo, issued by acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter, followed concerns from lawmakers and Veterans advocates about the freeze's impact, helping ease tensions surrounding the potential impact of the hiring freeze.
Exemptions
The order exempts military personnel, immigration enforcement, and public safety roles, and ensures Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans' benefits remain unaffected—this includes VA health jobs.
However, VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins admitted during his confirmation hearing that the department is still clarifying which positions are impacted.
Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter's memo states new hires starting before February 8, 2025, can proceed, but all others are temporarily revoked until the freeze is complete.
Still, there are 39 exempted health profession posts except in the memo from Hunter, which includes many different positions ranging from mental healthcare workers to nurses to specialists and more.
Veterans are also going to have fewer freezes for positions involved with processing benefits, so long as offices justify keeping them on board. It’s worth noting that claims have seen elevated rates due to the passing of the PACT Act.
“VA remains committed to being deliberative in the hiring actions taken to ensure we are postured for success as we implement overall modernization efforts and reform plans in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget,” reads Hunter’s memo.
Project 2025 Could Be a Factor
The controversial, conservative Project 2025 outline that President Trump worked to distance himself from could be coming to life in multiple ways right before our eyes. This includes the implementation of the hiring freeze.
Project 2025 aims to cut budgets, destroy programs, put hiring freezes into place, and cap personnel within the government.
In total, up to a million federal jobs could be gone once the dust settles if Project 2025 has its way. Trump’s hiring freeze is supposed to expire after 90 days.
However, before doing so, agencies are required to provide plans though agencies will first have to submit plans with guidance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) so that they prove moving forward, the positions will be more efficient.
It’s worth noting that the 90-day timeline does not apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is under a different, longer freeze.
2023 VA Hiring Freeze Exemption: Potential Job Disruptions
The exempt VA health care jobs represent nearly 66% of the department's workforce. Unions criticized the hiring freeze as disruptive, however, it went ahead anyway, as the Trump administration is looking to curb government growth.
Furthermore, new non-compensated volunteers at VA facilities are also being frozen during this time due to Trump’s orders.
In the meantime, while many VA health care jobs might not be impacted just yet, it’s clear that some disruptions should reasonably be expected for a few months.
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BY BUDDY BLOUIN
Buddy Blouin is a Contributing Writer at VeteranLife.com
Buddy Blouin is a Contributing Writer at VeteranLife.com
