Rep. Mike Levin Sounds Alarm Over Potential VA Privatization & Automation of VA Call Centers
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins sounding the alarm over reports that Elon Musk seeks to privatize the majority of federal agencies and their services. This comes on the heels of plans by VA to fire up to 83,000 workers, many of whom are veterans themselves, in order to dramatically reduce VA services and its workforce.
Additionally, VA plans to fire thousands of workers at call centers across the country that help veterans schedule appointments, access health care, and more. This would lead to the automation of call centers, a downgrade in services, and the inability of elderly and disabled veterans to get the help they need. Rep. Levin is concerned that the firings of VA workers and gutting of call centers will lead to automation and privatization that will only benefit corporations seeking to turn a profit on the backs of veterans.
In the letter, Rep. Levin demands Secretary Collins to safeguard call centers and prevent the privatization of VA.
Click here or read the full letter below:
Dear Secretary Collins,
I write to express my deep concern about reporting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is considering laying off employees at call centers and moving to automation.
Veterans are already facing long wait times and hold times, and these cuts will only further impede access to care. My office receives calls from elderly veterans who are confused about how to schedule an appointment, navigate VA websites, and reach out to their primary care providers. Elderly veterans rely on call center employees to book appointments. An automated answering system would inevitably lead to mistakes and poor service that could be resolved by ensuring there is a person on the other end of the line.
Two weeks ago, I held a community roundtable in my district to discuss the devastating impact of your proposal to fire over 80,000 employees across VA.[1] I heard from veterans and service providers about how devastating these cuts would be for veterans’ access to health care, disability benefits, and mental health resources. I am deeply disturbed by the lack of transparency regarding which VA employees serving our veterans have so far been fired, the reasons for their firing, and which job classifications will be targeted in your proposed future firings. If reporting is correct and call center employees are on that list, I urge you to reverse course now to help ensure that every veteran is treated with care and receives the help they need.
It appears to me that mass firings across VA are a first step towards privatization of care and services. I will use my position on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to fight against any attempts to privatize VA and gut the workforce that provides essential care, benefits, and support to our nation’s heroes.
I understand that these staffing plans are still under consideration, and I strongly urge you to reverse course and maintain adequate staffing levels at VA call centers.
Sincerely,
Mike Levin
Member of Congress
##