Glacier Country News

Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) have addressed a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding the recent elimination of 10,000 frontline jobs essential for veterans' healthcare, including roles such as psychologists and clinical social workers. These job cuts appear to contradict prior assurances from the VA that such frontline positions would not be affected.

The letter states: "Too many people in Washington, including some of our colleagues in the U.S. Congress with direct influence over policies impacting veterans, will make empty promises about fighting for veteran care and will use this report as an opportunity to call for more spending and more legislation that will only add to the bureaucratic nightmare at the VA. The reality is, it is the lack of proper oversight and the brazen willingness of the VA to violate congressional intent and prioritize issues that have zero impact on improving patient outcomes for veterans that has led to such disdain with the quality of VA care."

For further details, readers can access Senator Daines' press release and the full letter through provided links.