Congressman Cohen Presses VA Secretary Collins on Workforce Losses

MEMPHIS, TN – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Douglas Collins expressing extreme concern over widespread departures of mission-critical VA employees, including nurses, physicians and benefits examiners. He requested detailed data on staff losses across the six VA facilities serving Shelby and Tipton County veterans, warning that shortages threaten access to health care and earned benefits in Memphis and the surrounding region. 

Congressman Cohen’s letter cites the VA’s July Workforce Dashboard showing net workforce losses of more than 8,700 veteran-facing employees in FY25, including: 2,129 registered nurses, 1,283 medical support assistants, 751 physicians, and 1,294 veteran claim examiners. By comparison, the Biden Administration added 8,700 employees during the same period in FY24. 

Congressman Cohen’s letter reads, in part: 

“It is clear that your actions as Secretary are negatively impacting the VA workforce. VA is attritting employees that are critical to VA’s ability to meet its mission to serve veterans at an alarming rate. Your recent decision to terminate collective bargaining agreements for the vast majority of VA workers will most certainly lead to more employees choosing to leave the Department and fewer prospective workers choosing VA as an employer. Veterans’ access to their earned care and benefits will be affected.”

Congressman Cohen specifically asked Secretary Collins for detailed data on all employee departures from January 1 through August 21, 2025, at the following facilities: the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, the Memphis Vet Center, the Covington VA Clinic, the Nonconnah Boulevard VA Clinic, the Phelan Avenue VA Clinic, and the Millington VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

To read his full letter, click here.

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