Governor Healey Responds to New Data Showing How President Trump Has Abandoned Massachusetts Veterans

Governor Healey Responds to New Data Showing How President Trump Has Abandoned Massachusetts Veterans 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey is today responding to new data showing how President Donald Trump has abandoned veterans in Massachusetts and across the country. A new analysis by the Boston Globe found that the Veterans Health Administration lost 855 workers in Massachusetts last year, with a net loss of 264 full-time positions statewide. Those who departed were primarily front-line clinicians, including nurses, psychologists and medical support assistants, and these losses are compounded by years of workforce shortages in the agency.  

The exodus of staff was spearheaded by President Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As a result, it is now harder for veterans to access the care and treatment they need, as they face longer wait times and are often forced to pursue more expensive care outside of the VA network. 

"We’ve talked for a year now about how Donald Trump has abandoned our veterans. It started with Elon Musk and the DOGE layoffs and has continued with catastrophic cuts to health care and services” said Governor Maura Healey. “The incredibly sad reality is that President Trump’s cuts have left veterans with fewer doctors and nurses to care for them, longer wait times and delayed care. In contrast, in Massachusetts, we’ve transformed our veterans homes in Chelsea and Holyoke and doubled down on support for veterans and military families, with a focus on stable staffing and quality care. We’ve also prioritized housing through our End Veteran Homelessness campaign and enacted nation-leading benefits through our HERO Act." 

“In my first 60 days as Secretary, I have traveled across Massachusetts, meeting with veterans, families, and providers and visiting VA facilities in Providence and West Roxbury. In those visits and conversations, I have heard directly about the importance of timely, high-quality care,” said Veterans Services Secretary Eric Goralnick. “Health care depends on access, timeliness and trust, and staffing levels play a key role in all three. When there are fewer frontline staff, it can mean longer wait times, added pressure on providers, and delays in care for veterans. We remain focused on ensuring the system veterans rely on is strong, stable, and responsive, and on supporting veterans and families who may be affected.” 

In contrast, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made historic investments to strengthen services, improve care, and rebuild trust with the veteran community across Massachusetts. 

Over the past three years, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has: 

• Transformed the Veterans Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke, achieving full state and federal licensure, strengthening leadership, and improving quality of care.
• Increased staffing, implemented modern electronic medical records systems, and established new quality improvement programs to ensure better outcomes for veterans.
• Secured historic funding for the Veterans Homes, including unprecedented investments to support long-term sustainability and high-quality care.
• Launched the End Veteran Homelessness initiative, making the largest dedicated investment in state history to connect veterans with stable housing.
• Funded the construction for dozens of affordable units dedicated to veterans through partnerships with MassHousing.
• Enacted the HERO Act, delivering nation-leading benefits for veterans and military families, including expanded financial support and access to services  

• Launched the Massachusetts Veteran Ready Business program, certifying employers committed to hiring veterans and connecting them to job fairs, hiring resources, and employment opportunities.
• Provided landmark grants to veteran community organizations, supporting mental health peer support and suicide prevention programs statewide.
• Expanded the Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) program, strengthening peer outreach and ensuring equitable access to support across all regions of the state.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains committed to ensuring that every veteran in Massachusetts has access to the care, support, and opportunities they deserve.