Kate Leinbaugh

One agency that's been hit hard is the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the VA. It says it has already laid off more than 2,000 workers and is planning to cut about 70,000 positions. Lindsay spoke to some of the laid-off VA employees. One of them was Brett Taylor.

Brett is a vet himself. He served in the Army. How long were you in the military?

Brett is a vet himself. He served in the Army. How long were you in the military?

Brett is a vet himself. He served in the Army. How long were you in the military?

After coming home, Brett went to graduate school and got a master's degree in social work. He says he started at the VA in 2019.

After coming home, Brett went to graduate school and got a master's degree in social work. He says he started at the VA in 2019.

After coming home, Brett went to graduate school and got a master's degree in social work. He says he started at the VA in 2019.

Last summer, Brett moved to Colorado for a new job at the VA. In his role, he helps vets without housing find a permanent place to live. One of his last cases, he says, involved a veteran in his family who needed housing that would accommodate the man's disability.

Last summer, Brett moved to Colorado for a new job at the VA. In his role, he helps vets without housing find a permanent place to live. One of his last cases, he says, involved a veteran in his family who needed housing that would accommodate the man's disability.

Last summer, Brett moved to Colorado for a new job at the VA. In his role, he helps vets without housing find a permanent place to live. One of his last cases, he says, involved a veteran in his family who needed housing that would accommodate the man's disability.

Why can't the veterans do this on their own?

Why can't the veterans do this on their own?

Why can't the veterans do this on their own?

Once Donald Trump took office and created Doge, were you concerned for your job?

Once Donald Trump took office and created Doge, were you concerned for your job?

Once Donald Trump took office and created Doge, were you concerned for your job?

Because Brett had recently started that new role, he was classified as a probationary employee. Those are workers who were recently hired or promoted in the last year or two. And when the Trump administration started making cuts, probationary employees were among the first targets. So Brett was laid off. How did you find out?

Because Brett had recently started that new role, he was classified as a probationary employee. Those are workers who were recently hired or promoted in the last year or two. And when the Trump administration started making cuts, probationary employees were among the first targets. So Brett was laid off. How did you find out?

Because Brett had recently started that new role, he was classified as a probationary employee. Those are workers who were recently hired or promoted in the last year or two. And when the Trump administration started making cuts, probationary employees were among the first targets. So Brett was laid off. How did you find out?

Or was there... Yeah, it was immediately. When you were laid off, how many cases did you have open? I think about 16 cases.