Veterans gathered outside the Tucson VA Medical Center to send a message to the new acting VA director on her first day: They don’t want to see mass layoffs in Southern Arizona as the VA prepares for a reorganization.
About 50 veterans and supporters rallied early Tuesday morning, on the same day Maria Nguyen began her new role as interim director and chief executive officer of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). Nguyen succeeds Jennifer Gutowski, who retired after 26 years of service at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“It’s the first day for the acting director, and we want to send a message that we want things kept the same way that they were yesterday; and going forward, we want it improved,” said Army veteran Henry Trejo…