BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Protesters gathered outside the Bakersfield Veterans Clinic in central Bakersfield. They are protesting the potential cuts and the long-awaited new clinic in the county.
Christopher Syrek, VA chief of staff told officials at the agency that there is an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of under 400,000 workers. The VA, which expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT ACT, will now cut tens of thousands of employees.
Sam Hartman, an organizer, said he is there to support the veterans and staff.
“I was promised when I joined, I’d have VA for the rest of my life. And now a bunch of people come in to say ‘Oh that’s not true, we’ll prioritize it. We’ll gut it.’…