Veterans fired from federal jobs say they feel betrayed, including some who voted for Trump
Photo: James Stancil is seen outside the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical center in Milwaukee. (AP Photo Morry Gash).
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Nathan Hooven is a disabled Air Force veteran who voted for Donald Trump in November. Barely three months later, he’s now unemployed and says he feels betrayed by the president’s dramatic downsizing of the federal government that cost him his job.
“I think a lot of other veterans voted the same way, and we have been betrayed,” said Hooven, who was fired in February from a Virginia medical facility for veterans. “I feel like my life and the lives of so many like me, so many that have sacrificed so much for this country, are being destroyed.”
The mass firing of federal employees since Trump took office in January is pushing out veterans who make up 30% of the nation’s federal workforce. The exact number of veterans who have lost their job is unknown, although House Democrats last month estimated that it was potentially in the thousands.
More could be on the way. The Department of Veterans Affairs — a major employer of veterans — is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press . Veterans represent more than 25% of the VA’s workforce.
In interviews, several veterans who supported candidates of both parties described their recent job losses as a betrayal of their military service. They are particularly angered by how it happened: in an email that cited inadequate job performance — despite, they say, receiving positive reviews in their roles.
James Stancil, a 62-year-old Army veteran who was fired last month from his job as a supply technician at a VA hospital in Milwaukee, said it felt like he’d been shot and dumped out of a helicopter.
Stancil said the email he received telling him his performance wasn’t good enough came as “a complete shock” because he had previously received positive feedback. Hooven also said his performance was cited despite similarly positive feedback during his 11 months as a probationary employee.
“I’ve been blindsided,” Hooven said. “My life has been completely upended with zero chance to prepare. I was fired without notice, unjustly, based on a lie that I’m a subpar, poor performer at my job.”
Stancil said he believes Trump owes fired veterans an apology.
Veterans were much likelier to support Trump than Harris in November’s presidential election, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the American electorate conducted in all 50 states. Nearly 6 in 10 voters who are veterans backed Trump, while about 4 in 10 voted for Harris.
Cynthia Williams, an Army veteran who lost her job as a dispatcher at a VA in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said she didn’t vote for either candidate but suspects fellow veterans who backed Trump might have changed their minds had they known this was coming.
“It was blindsiding, because he said he wanted to make the country great again … but this is not making it great again,” Williams said.
Jared Evans, a recreation therapist at the Salem VA, was fired in February, his eighth month as a probationary worker. Evans said a patient had just told him how much he appreciated his work when he received his email. He had moved from California with his wife, 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter for a job that he had long wanted.
Evans, a 36-year-old Army veteran, was the only one working in his family. He said he feels scared, numb and angry.
“I cried,” Evans said about learning of his firing. “I haven’t done that in a while, because you’re just kind of free falling now. You’re in an area to where you’re not really familiar with, and you’re just being left out to dry.”
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Nathan Hooven is a disabled Air Force veteran who voted for Donald Trump in November. Barely three months later, he’s now unemployed and says he feels betrayed by the president’s dramatic downsizing of the federal government that cost him his job.
“I think a lot of other veterans voted the same way, and we have been betrayed,” said Hooven, who was fired in February from a Virginia medical facility for veterans. “I feel like my life and the lives of so many like me, so many that have sacrificed so much for this country, are being destroyed.”
There are a lot of people in that situation. (I can't help but wonder how many of them will vote Republican again in the midterms?)
LOL, sucker!
I am not so quick to judge him (after all, I myself have made some pretty stupid mistakes in my life).
I am so inclined to agree with this sentiment. "We," tried so hard to harm people of the pain and agony this man would inflict through Project 2025 (which he flat out lied to the nation about even though it was plain to see he was a participant in its policy 'prescriptions') and his retribution (which again, he flat out warned the country he would engage in). So yes, MAGA voters have no one to blame but themselves for the hell we-they catch for the next several years.
I find it "rich" that they media think it is the 'job' of democrats to "get their. . . crap. . .together and 'hold the line" again Trumpism, when upwards of 90 million eligible voters did not vote at all to help 'end' this:
To all the wishy-washy people out there, "we" who give a damn about liberty, justice, peace, and relative prosperity for everybody, are tired of being sick and tired of "your" collective lazy-butts and gripes about this or about that while not even bothering to care about what others need.
Get off "your" duffs and help out in the 2026 mid-terms. You owe this nation at least that much with "your" individual votes!
“Why did you do that?” cried the boy. “You promised you would not
bite me!”
As the snake slithered away, leaving the boy alone in pain, it hissed
behind, “You knew what I was when you picked me up.
Folksinger wrote and sings a song called "The Last Thing on My Mind" that has a very relevant line in it: "It's a lesson, too late for the learning."
By that time the USA will have been so fucked up by him and Musk it won't make any difference.
I remember Tom Paxton-- also remember "The Last Thing on My Mind".
That was a long time ago! He had a long career! I just googled him, found this (on Wikipedia) which might be of interest to you:
Paxton's songs have been featured in the following movies: A Time for Burning (1966), Jennifer on My Mind (1971), Demolition Man (1993), The Family Man (2000), North Country (2005), and Spike (2008).
Buzz, it always can make a difference for the living anyway. My chief concern is this: Some veterans (surely not all) need to be distracted by doing good for their country (the 'call' in their being is so powerful) and. . . sadly, we have all seen or heard the horror stories of many 'pining away' or just ending it all. . . when they perceive they are dismissed, disgraced, or no longer serving a 'right' purpose (loss of dignity). Some people, for lack of a better world can be fragile emotionally when told they are 'not wanted.' In a worse case scenario, some people can become. . . yes, DANGEROUS to the people around them and society at large!
Very righteous CB, but unfortunately your Trump/Musk kingdom doesn't give a shit.
Apparently not! That should be clear to observers who next read and hear the GOP's propaganda phrasing: ('We love and support our patriotic veterans').
No the GOP does not love theirs or any other grouping of veterans - when it 'bothers' the conservative larger scheme.
It has befallen civil service veterans to become: collateral damage from 'friendly fire'! Many are now "shell-shocked" - hit at home!!
The mass firing of federal employees since Trump took office in January is pushing out veterans who make up 30% of the nation’s federal workforce. The exact number of veterans who have lost their job is unknown, although House Democrats last month estimated that it was potentially in the thousands.
More could be on the way.
The Department of Veterans Affairs — a major employer of veterans — is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs . . .
Veterans represent more than 25% of the VA’s workforce.
I bet a lot of people join the military because it can offer them a lot of them security after they have served their nation.
That is a positive to 'bank' on after a successful 'servant' career. It is like 'investing' in oneself through mapping (and living) out a path/course for one's life. Imagine how destructive it can be to have one's life 'map' irreparably destroyed through whim, confusion, retribution, from one man who simply has vendettas and followers who can not be persuaded by the truth, reason, and/or practicality.
One more thing about that: It is really a 'loser' tactic that I sometimes hear or read expressed by conservatives (in particular). . . when they parse and 'detail' the benefits given over to the lives of 'others' who get the aid, assistance, or a position they need which can lift him or her up to a competitive or (dare I say it) "equitable" place of decency, dignity, and acceptability in our society. Their critics just bitch and moan in spite of their own successes. It is as if they do not realize that the economy pie is big enough for everyone (when it is not horded but shared with all).
In interviews, several veterans who supported candidates of both parties described their recent job losses as a betrayal of their military service. They are particularly angered by how it happened: in an email that cited inadequate job performance — despite, they say, receiving positive reviews in their roles.
Stancil said the email he received telling him his performance wasn’t good enough came as “a complete shock” because he had previously received positive feedback.
“I’ve been blindsided,” Hooven said. “My life has been completely upended with zero chance to prepare. I was fired without notice, unjustly, based on a lie that I’m a subpar, poor performer at my job.”
Stancil said he believes Trump owes fired veterans an apology.
IMO he owes them a lot more than an apology.
Agreed.
The saddest drama to yet play out is some of these people will not SURVIVE the shame and miscalculation of their vote. They will harm themselves. Waiting and watching for the sad, sad, news to come.
(I sure hope it does not happen. Don't harm yourselves, veterans. . . we love all of you.)
Thank you for your comment!
Ever since Bush and the "tea party" Republicans are famous for using the troops as nothing more than a talking point.
Remember all the right wing backlash when the tide turned against Bush and the war? It was non-stop "Support Our President" and millions of "Support Our Troops" bumper stickers.
Every Republican was bashing any anti-war sentiment on Fox and other media saying if you don't support Bush, if you don't support the war, you aren't supporting our troops.
Yet Republicans today have zero problems with firing our troops in both the military and in civil servant jobs acquired after their service to our country.
Republicans refuse to speak out against Trump or Musk or DOGE for the job cuts, firings at VA healthcare facilities and fail to question cancelled funding for various veterans care like recent Burn Pit legislation.
Not to mention how many Veterans who are retired needing Social Security and depending on their income also needing Medicaid in nursing homes.
Republicans threw our troops in the trash for Trump and cower in fear to Musk the DOGE king. If they won't stand up for our veterans now under the onslaught of slash and burn policies then call them out. Ask them why they no longer support our troops?
Yeah, Democrats had nothing to do with that...
Yeah, Democrats had nothing to do with that...
How so?
I remember how they always claimed they strongly supported our military. (But that's really only when they think its convenient for their current agenda).
And of course, another area of hypocrisy-- always claiming that they are "The Party of Law and Order". which certainly isn't consistant with the attack on our capitol on January 6th! (The hypocrisy further compounded by Trump's pardons).
This:
Criminal records of Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump include rape, domestic violence
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump granted clemency to every person charged or convicted for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, even those convicted of violently assaulting police officers.
Conservative SELECTIVITY is only complemented by conservative INCONSISTENCY. That is, conservatives want what they want for this country, no matter if it is reasonable or unreasonable for the whole of the country.
Working for the government means starting out at the bottom of the pay scale and suffering through years of literally climbing the ladder between pay grades. The jobs are perfect for veterans who are already used to poor pay, 100 year old buildings, suspect plumbing, electricity, analog equipment and DOS and COBOL computers.
Veterans get preferential treatment. For the last 80 years, getting that job at SSN or the USPS has been a golden ticket.
Now that ticket is approaching worthlessness.
Just another form of DEI going down.
That's true in so many cases.
Although actually I had an uncle (now long deceased) who had a very high GS rating . He was an accomplished chemist and had a few well known inventions. (He started at a fairly high salary).
But that's rare-- most are like what you described.
It is important and must not be overlooked that there are thousands plus people in the government employment who simply want to go to work, be helpful, be part of something meaningful in the scheme of life and matters this world, but do not want the 'RAT RACE" of cut-throat competitiveness. It being simply put: not who they are in this life. On the positive side-they leave the private sector "OPEN" for all those who are 'bent' that way for striving against their fellow human beings.
Many veterans take advantage of the 'plus-sized' employment their country says it graciously wants them to enjoy ('Thank you for your service.') But now, we see the backlash as they are denigrated, discounted, unceremoniously called "moochers" and casted-off by a spiteful president who follows the wishes of some seriously hateful and jealous self-serving constituents in his political party.