SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON DOGE FIRINGS IMPACTING VETERANS

WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition and member of the House Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs Committees, released the following statement regarding federal worker firings impacting veterans in IL-10:

“I am deeply concerned by Elon Musk and DOGE’s clumsy and arbitrary approach to ‘government efficiency,’ most recently threatening the care we provide our veterans and servicemembers here in Illinois and across the nation. These men and women put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and they deserve the highest quality of care in return.

“I recently learned of several firings impacting workers from my district that are a result of these DOGE directives. The individuals who have been fired help to ensure the delivery of care and safe operations of Lovell Federal Health Care Center. Approximately 35,000 veterans, every Navy recruit in basic training, thousands of active-duty service members serving at Naval Station Great Lakes and their families receive vital healthcare at Lovell.

“Lovell Federal Health Care Center not only is the only hospital in our region devoted to serving veterans, it is the only hospital in the entire country that also serves as the principal health care provider for every US Naval recruit. Not only do staff cuts provide a challenge to the hardworking professionals at Lovell that care for our veterans, but they also pose a threat to our military readiness given the depth of care Lovell provides to Naval recruits.  

“I think we can all agree there is more we can do to make our government more efficient and effective. However, taking a chainsaw to our federal workforce rather than a scalpel threatens to not only add inefficiency and chaos to our government, but it also threatens to make us less healthy, less safe, and less secure. None of this should fall on the backs of those who serve our nation.

“I have great confidence in the hardworking staff and leadership at Lovell, and that they will do everything they can to continue to provide the best possible care for our veterans and Naval recruits. I urge VA Secretary Doug Collins and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to work closely with the leadership at health centers serving our veterans and service members to ensure no impacts to care are experienced by those who devote their lives to maintaining our freedom.”  

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