TOPEKA, KS – The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has continued its wave of mass federal employee terminations, with at least 24 VA workers in Topeka receiving direct termination emails. These cuts, which bypassed standard HR processes, are now confirmed to impact key support staff crucial to veteran care.
Diana Hicks, the National Vice President for District 9 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), reported to ThisIsTopeka.com that among those terminated are 10 Social Service Assistants, 3 VA Trainers, and several employees from regional VA support offices.
Breakdown of Firings and Their Impact on Veteran Services
Topeka VA Firings: 24 Employees including:
10 Social Service Assistants – Provided direct assistance to veterans in accessing benefits, housing support, mental health resources, and reintegration programs. Their loss could lead to increased wait times for veterans in need of support.
3 VA Trainers – Responsible for training new and existing VA employees on policies, patient care procedures, and compliance requirements. Their absence may lead to delays in continued education for VA staff.
Leavenworth VA Firings (NAGE Local 85 Reports)
2 in CPCPAC (Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center at the VA) – Handled payroll and benefits processing for veterans and Coast Guard personnel, ensuring financial stability for service members. Their termination could lead to delays in pay and benefits administration.
1 in CMOP (Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy) – Worked in prescription fulfillment and mail-order medication services for veterans. The loss of this role may result in delays for veterans receiving critical medications.
4 in EKHCS (Eastern Kansas Healthcare System) – Included support staff in administrative, medical support, or facility maintenance roles essential for smooth hospital and clinic operations. Their absence may cause administrative bottlenecks and potential service disruptions.
1 in NCO 15 (Network Contracting Office 15) – Managed procurement and vendor contracts for VA facilities in the region. This termination could slow down supply chain logistics and facility maintenance agreements, impacting the efficiency of the VA’s operations.
Union and Political Response
The AFGE and NAGE unions have raised concerns about the legality and ethics of these sudden terminations. “We are exploring every possible avenue to challenge this,” Hicks stated, emphasizing that HR departments were not involved in these decisions and remain unaware of the full scale of firings.
The abrupt nature of these mass terminations raises alarms about how veteran services will be affected in Topeka and Leavenworth, especially as more terminations are anticipated in the coming days.
ThisIsTopeka.com will continue to monitor and update this story as more information becomes available. If you are a VA employee affected by these terminations or have insights into the ongoing situation, please contact us at [email protected]
To read more about how layoffs will hurt Veterans, click here.
