Letter from Mike Stein

Job Cuts Will Weaken Services

The massive job cuts across the federal government are deeply concerning and raise serious questions about the wisdom of such a seemingly haphazard process. These cuts threaten to undermine essential services that millions of Americans rely on, including critical programs for our nation’s veterans.

Federal employees play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of services that keep our communities safe, healthy and functioning. From processing Social Security benefits to maintaining national parks, their work touches nearly every aspect of our lives. Slashing jobs will inevitably lead to delays, reduced access and diminished quality of these services, disproportionately affecting those who need them most.

Our veterans, in particular, stand to suffer greatly from these cuts. The Department of Veterans Affairs is already grappling with backlogs and staffing shortages, which have left many veterans waiting months—or even years—for the care and benefits they have earned through their service. Cutting federal jobs will only exacerbate these challenges, leaving veterans without the support they need and deserve. Moreover, our veterans currently represent approximately 30 percent of the federal workforce, so the large- scale layoffs currently being enacted disproportionately harm those who have already made sacrifices for our nation. Is this how we thank these patriots for their service?

At a time when our nation should be investing in its people and infrastructure, these job cuts represent a step in the wrong direction. They will not only harm federal workers and their families but also weaken the systems that millions of Americans depend on. Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our country, deserve better than to have their care compromised by shortsighted, misguided budget decisions.

I urge our leaders to reconsider these cuts and prioritize policies that strengthen, rather than weaken, the essential services that keep our nation running. Let’s honor our commitment to veterans and all Americans by ensuring that our government has the resources and workforce it needs to serve the public effectively.

Michael Stein
Cooperstown