WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, stated:

“It is unacceptable that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 health care positions this month. This is especially outrageous given the reality that VA facilities in Vermont and across the country already face severe staffing challenges. When someone puts their life on the line to defend this country in uniform, we in turn must provide them with the best quality health care available. These layoffs are unacceptable and must be reversed. We must expand the VA, not hollow it out. And I will do everything I can to make that happen.”