Kelly Leads Effort Demanding Answers on Mass Layoffs of Veterans from Federal Workforce

Today, Arizona Senator and U.S. Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly (D-AZ) led a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell, expressing concern over the significant number of U.S. military veterans being fired from the federal workforce as part of mass layoffs by President Trump and Elon Musk. 

Other senators who joined the letter are Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affair Committee Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).  

“According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), veterans make up 30 percent of the federal workforce compared to only six percent of the civilian workforce. More than 640,000 veterans were part of the federal workforce before Elon Musk and President Trump’s haphazard layoffs began, many of whom are losing their livelihoods after these layoffs and a legally questionable deferred resignation program. The administration’s additional planned federal layoffs will impact a wide swath of veterans, hurting them and their families while also undermining government services,” the senators wrote.  

They highlight, “According to analysis compiled from open-source data, as of February 23, 2025, Elon Musk and President Trump have already fired nearly 6,000 veterans across the federal government.”  

In their letter, the senators call on OPM to provide details on the number of affected veterans, including those with service-connected disabilities, and to explain whether proper assessments were conducted before these workforce reductions took place. 

“We are alarmed because it does not appear OPM conducted any meaningful assessment of how layoffs and the legally questionable “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer would impact veterans. We request information on what, if any, assessment OPM conducted on the impact the deferred resignation offer and mass layoffs will have on federal agencies’ ability to meet their missions and Congressional mandate, or the impact to the federal workforce, particularly on U.S. veterans,” the senators continue.  

“All federal employees deserve fair treatment and recognition for their service to the American people. Veterans bring great value and skillsets earned through their military service to the federal government. To lay them off with no forethought is disrespectful to their service and damaging to our federal government,” the letter concludes. 

Read the full letter to OPM Acting Director Ezell here.