Andrea Hsu

She said they're like flashbang grenades meant to discombobulate federal workers. And NPR agreed not to identify her or others at the VA by name because they're scared they'll lose their jobs for speaking out.

Yeah, they did because the VA told them they should respond. And in fact, they told me it's not hard writing down, you know, a few things about what they did, a few sentences about what they did. But they do see it as just one more thing getting in the way of their work, which is helping veterans deal with these really tough problems.

Yeah, they did because the VA told them they should respond. And in fact, they told me it's not hard writing down, you know, a few things about what they did, a few sentences about what they did. But they do see it as just one more thing getting in the way of their work, which is helping veterans deal with these really tough problems.

Yeah, they did because the VA told them they should respond. And in fact, they told me it's not hard writing down, you know, a few things about what they did, a few sentences about what they did. But they do see it as just one more thing getting in the way of their work, which is helping veterans deal with these really tough problems.

And it's coming at a time when there's been so much upheaval in the federal government. You know, the VA this week announced deep cuts ahead. And a psychologist I talked to said patients are themselves worried. She has patients asking her, are you going to be here next week or next month? And she says she's spending a lot of time calming their nerves instead of focusing on their treatments.

And it's coming at a time when there's been so much upheaval in the federal government. You know, the VA this week announced deep cuts ahead. And a psychologist I talked to said patients are themselves worried. She has patients asking her, are you going to be here next week or next month? And she says she's spending a lot of time calming their nerves instead of focusing on their treatments.

And it's coming at a time when there's been so much upheaval in the federal government. You know, the VA this week announced deep cuts ahead. And a psychologist I talked to said patients are themselves worried. She has patients asking her, are you going to be here next week or next month? And she says she's spending a lot of time calming their nerves instead of focusing on their treatments.

Yeah. Well, I spoke with a Harvard Business School professor about this. Her name is Amy Edmondson, and she's a social psychologist. She says you have to think about the context when you consider the impact of these emails that originated with Elon Musk.

Yeah. Well, I spoke with a Harvard Business School professor about this. Her name is Amy Edmondson, and she's a social psychologist. She says you have to think about the context when you consider the impact of these emails that originated with Elon Musk.

Yeah. Well, I spoke with a Harvard Business School professor about this. Her name is Amy Edmondson, and she's a social psychologist. She says you have to think about the context when you consider the impact of these emails that originated with Elon Musk.

And the people I talk to, Scott, say they're doing the best they can to keep it together for their patients. But one psychiatrist told me she's anxious and irritable and she finds herself doing things like doom scrolling the Internet, which she knows is not good. In fact, it's something she tells her own patients not to do.

And the people I talk to, Scott, say they're doing the best they can to keep it together for their patients. But one psychiatrist told me she's anxious and irritable and she finds herself doing things like doom scrolling the Internet, which she knows is not good. In fact, it's something she tells her own patients not to do.

And the people I talk to, Scott, say they're doing the best they can to keep it together for their patients. But one psychiatrist told me she's anxious and irritable and she finds herself doing things like doom scrolling the Internet, which she knows is not good. In fact, it's something she tells her own patients not to do.

Well, we asked the White House to comment on what we've heard from these VA employees and we haven't heard back. We do know that President Trump supports Elon Musk's effort to gather these weekly responses. The president has repeatedly said there are some workers in the federal government who aren't doing a good job and shouldn't be there.

Well, we asked the White House to comment on what we've heard from these VA employees and we haven't heard back. We do know that President Trump supports Elon Musk's effort to gather these weekly responses. The president has repeatedly said there are some workers in the federal government who aren't doing a good job and shouldn't be there.

Well, we asked the White House to comment on what we've heard from these VA employees and we haven't heard back. We do know that President Trump supports Elon Musk's effort to gather these weekly responses. The president has repeatedly said there are some workers in the federal government who aren't doing a good job and shouldn't be there.

Now, we don't know what the administration is doing with these responses. Some have speculated they're using AI to analyze them. But to what end is not clear. The administration has told agencies to collect the information and decide how to deal with people who don't respond.

Now, we don't know what the administration is doing with these responses. Some have speculated they're using AI to analyze them. But to what end is not clear. The administration has told agencies to collect the information and decide how to deal with people who don't respond.

Now, we don't know what the administration is doing with these responses. Some have speculated they're using AI to analyze them. But to what end is not clear. The administration has told agencies to collect the information and decide how to deal with people who don't respond.

Yeah, but they tell me they really don't want to. They love their work. They know they can make more money in private practice. But one psychologist told me she felt a call to duty to serve those who have served the country. And she said, I'm not a quitter. I won't be bullied into quitting. She plans to stay as long as she can.