Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) firing of employees at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta:
“Maine has one of the highest numbers of veterans per capita of any state in the country, and I have always been a staunch advocate for funding for Maine’s only VA hospital, Togus. Our local VA understands the staffing they require to meet the needs of Maine veterans better than Washington. They deserve to be included in personnel decisions at their facility. It is my understanding that, on this occasion, they were not consulted.
“I have been in touch with the Trump Administration for more information on this matter. The Trump Administration has the right to examine ways to streamline service at the VA and ensure veterans are getting top-of-the-line health care, but it needs to be taking a careful look at the agency’s needs, not making sweeping, indiscriminate cuts—especially when we are dealing with something as critical as caring for our nation’s veterans.”
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