⚡NIMITZ NEWS FLASH⚡

Shadow Hearing

Led by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal

April 2, 2025 (recording here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses:

• Mr. Paul Eaton, Major General (Ret.): Senior Advisor, VoteVets

• Ms. Shernice Mundell

• Mr. Jonathan Kamens

• Mr. Gabe D’Alatri

• Mr. Luke Graziani

• Ms. Kira Carrigan

Keywords mentioned:

• Firings, probationary employees, federal workforce, data security, military spouses, mental health services, DOGE, Trump administration, job cuts, hiring freeze, reinstatement

IN THEIR WORDS

OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE SENATORS

• Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal spoke on the significance of the shadow hearing, asserting that it was as important as a formal hearing. He criticized the Trump administration for cuts in funding, hiring freezes, and mass firings of VA employees, stating that veterans were disproportionately affected. He argued that the firings and contract cancellations harmed veterans and described the administration’s actions as draconian, unacceptable, and deserving of bipartisan opposition.

• Sen. Tim Kaine thanked the Ranking Member for hosting and expressed concern about what he described as a “war on veterans.” He argued that veterans were disproportionately affected by federal workforce layoffs due to their high representation among federal employees. Sen. Kaine claimed that the layoffs targeted probationary employees, many of whom were veterans transitioning from military service. He criticized the administration’s actions as deliberate, concluding that those responsible were fully aware of the disproportionate impact on veterans.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

• Mr. Paul Eaton thanked Ranking Member Blumenthal and his colleagues for their commitment to veterans. He criticized the administration for systematically dismantling the VA through mass firings and staff reductions aimed at paving the way for privatization. Mr. Eaton claimed that the administration’s actions were not genuine reform but reckless cuts that endangered veterans' care. He warned that these actions were causing immediate harm, including disrupted medical services and overwhelmed crisis lines, and urged bipartisan cooperation to prevent further damage.

• Ms. Shernice Mundell, a single mother, veteran, and former federal employee, recounted how she was unexpectedly terminated from her position via a pre-recorded video call with no explanation other than poor performance. She described her termination as unjust, especially after being promoted within the agency. Ms. Mundell illustrated the psychological stress and uncertainty she and her colleagues faced due to the sudden firings. She said she would continue speaking out against the poor treatment of veterans and federal employees.

• Mr. Jonathan Kamens, a former Information Security Advisor for VA.gov, detailed how his firing left the VA without adequate cybersecurity expertise. He argued that the administration’s actions were endangering veterans’ personal information and security by reducing essential staff and hiring unqualified replacements. Mr. Kamens claimed that many firings were politically motivated rather than performance-based. He criticized the administration for knowingly creating conditions that jeopardized veterans’ data and safety.

• Mr. Gabe D’Alatri, a veteran fired from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) five days before completing his probationary period, shared his concern about potential VA cuts. He reviewed the disproportionately high suicide rates among veterans and warned that reducing VA services would worsen the problem. Mr. D’Alatri called for bipartisan cooperation to address the crisis and stated that the issue should transcend politics for the sake of veterans’ well-being.

• Mr. Luke Graziani, a retired, disabled Army veteran, described being unexpectedly terminated from his role as a public affairs officer at the VA in the Bronx. Although reinstated, he voiced ongoing concerns about job security and the future of VA services. He underscored the emotional toll of discussing potential loss of care with fellow veterans and called for action to protect veterans’ access to services.

• Ms. Kira Carrigan, a disabled Marine Corps veteran and military spouse, recounted her termination from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) despite positive performance reviews and recommendations from her supervisory chain. She argued that the firing process was unfair and unlawful, particularly given her high qualifications and prior achievements. Ms. Carrigan recounted the harm done to her family’s financial stability and the broader implications for veterans and military spouses attempting to serve in federal roles.

• Ranking Member Blumenthal asked Mr. Eaton to describe the impact of recent cuts and firings on clinics, hospitals, and healthcare services for veterans. Mr. Eaton responded that the cuts had undermined trust within the chain of command, which is essential for effective military operations. He explained that the arbitrary nature of the cuts created fear and doubt, comparing the situation to the failure of the Iraqi army due to a lack of trust in leadership. He claimed that the VA’s effectiveness relies on the trust veterans have in the system, which is now severely compromised.

• Sen. Ruben Gallego asked Ms. Carrigan to speak about the importance of remote work opportunities for military families and how recent firings by the Trump administration have affected them. Ms. Carrigan explained that military spouses face a 21% unemployment rate, often due to frequent moves required by their spouses’ military service. She noted that remote positions provide stability and the ability to contribute financially despite relocations. She stressed that recent cuts and hiring freezes have reduced those opportunities, negatively impacting her family's stability as her husband nears retirement.

• Sen. Mazie Hirono asked the witnesses about their current employment status after being rehired by the VA. Mr. Graziani shared that he had been reinstated following the court rulings and had received back pay, but he had ongoing concerns about job security. Sen. Hirono observed the broader issue of chaos within federal agencies and the VA’s critical role in providing healthcare to veterans, criticizing the administration’s lack of clear plans for replacing laid-off workers.

• Sen. Maggie Hassan asked all the witnesses what message the recent firings by the Trump administration sent to veterans who had already served their country and were now working for the federal government. Mr. Eaton responded that the firings undermined the dignity of work and contributed to a lack of trust that could impact recruitment and retention. Ms. Mundell stated that the firings demonstrated a disregard for veterans' contributions and made her question whether she wanted her son to join the military. Mr. Graziani described the firings as a betrayal of veterans who trusted the government to support their transition into civilian life. Ms. Carrigan added that the administration’s lack of concern for veterans’ well-being was hurtful and damaging to the morale of those who dedicated their lives to serving the country.

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin asked Mr. Eaton to provide an assessment of how cuts to VA staffing, particularly for mental health support services like the Veterans Crisis Line, would affect veterans. Mr. Eaton outlined that cuts to mental health services would increase wait times and worsen outcomes, noting that timely access to care is essential for veterans dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological wounds. He warned that privatization efforts would further harm veterans by replacing specialized VA care with less knowledgeable private providers, ultimately jeopardizing veterans’ mental health and well-being.

• Sen. Amy Klobuchar asked Mr. Eaton about the importance of providing veterans with pathways to employment in rural areas, especially in roles such as firefighters and agricultural workers, given their skills and training. Mr. Eaton responded that veterans are naturally suited to outdoor jobs and often prefer working in isolated or rural settings due to difficulties adjusting to crowded environments. He warned that funding cuts and firings would reduce the availability of these types of jobs, further limiting employment opportunities for veterans who would otherwise thrive in such roles.

• Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked Mr. Kamens if his position as the information security lead for VA.gov was considered expendable due to the size of the VA. Mr. Kamens responded that while the VA is a large agency, he was the only person responsible for leading information security for VA.gov, making his role indispensable. He explained that his leadership and expertise were necessary, but his termination was disregarded despite his supervisors' protests.

• Sen. Warren followed up on the specific types of veteran data that Mr. Kamens protected. Mr. Kamens detailed that he protected sensitive data including medical records, therapy notes, financial information, tax records, and more. He explained that compromising VA.gov would endanger all of this data. When asked what the consequences would be if such data were compromised, Mr. Kamens identified three major threats: scammers exploiting veterans’ data, extortion using sensitive information, and potential misuse by the Trump administration against vulnerable veterans. He conveyed that centralizing data access, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was doing, increased the risk of misuse.

• Sen. Angus King asked Mr. Kamens why he believed he was fired and what reasons were provided. Mr. Kamens believes that he was likely fired for political reasons, as he had been vocal about opposing DOGE’s actions. He was told his position was eliminated due to a “restructuring,” but later saw that similar roles were being advertised, confirming the justification was pretextual. Mr. Kamens said that he had not received a performance review or letter prior to his firing.

• Sen. King asked Mr. Graziani if he received a poor performance letter and whether he was a probationary employee. Mr. Graziani confirmed that he had received a boilerplate memo about performance issues despite having no prior complaints. He clarified that he was a probationary employee at the time of his firing but had since been reinstated following a court ruling. He doubted that essential services could continue uninterrupted if the 80,000 firings were seen through.

• Sen. King then asked Ms. Mundell about her termination experience and whether her performance had been reviewed. Ms. Mundell stated that she had been promoted within her department, indicating satisfactory performance. She was fired without prior warning or review, only receiving emails indicating her job was being re-evaluated during her probationary period. Her supervisor and department director were unaware of her termination and only learned about it when she shared the emails.

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen stated that the firings were a dereliction of duty and expressed disappointment that the regular committees had not addressed the issue. He asked the witnesses if they had any insight into what specific services provided by the VA might be lost due to the impending cuts of over 80,000 federal employees. Mr. Kamens responded that during his time working for the VA as an Information Security Advisor, he observed that every department was overworked and understaffed. He explained that further cuts would exacerbate existing issues, causing delays and reductions in service quality.

• Sen. Mark Kelly asked Ms. Mundell about her efforts to find employment since being fired. Ms. Mundell said she had been sending out resumes and applying for state jobs but had not received support from her former agency or the VA. She described the hardship of losing health insurance for her children and the difficulties in applying for unemployment benefits without the necessary paperwork. Sen. Kelly asked what kind of support would be most helpful. Ms. Mundell responded that mental health counseling and job placement assistance would be essential but underscored that her immediate priority was finding employment.

• Sen. Kaine asked the witnesses, particularly those who worked for the VA, if his understanding of their employment situation was accurate. He noted that VA employees were being laid off while the agency still had significant staffing needs, especially for critical positions such as radiologists. Mr. Graziani confirmed that his observations were correct, adding that the firings and hiring freezes made it nearly impossible for the VA to function effectively. He mentioned that the two-year probationary period for clinical professionals at the VA added further instability and discouraged qualified candidates from accepting positions.

• Ranking Member Blumenthal reviewed the contradictions of the VA attempting to recruit new employees while simultaneously firing staff. He called the administration’s actions “dumb and cruel” and warned that they would irreparably damage the VA’s ability to function. The Ranking Member reiterated that the firings disproportionately targeted veterans, which he viewed as a betrayal of the administration’s commitments.

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