The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is undergoing significant changes to its staff and budget. For U.S. veterans with mesothelioma, the VA is a lifeline that provides monthly payouts and free or low-cost health care. The ongoing changes could make it harder for veterans to access the care they need.
The VA is expected to lay off 12,000 employees through September 2025 after already losing 17,000 staff this year. This comes on the heels of an even more radical plan to fire 80,000 staff members, which was ultimately scrapped.
VA Secretary Doug Collins says the agency wants to keep essential jobs and that the layoffs won’t affect the level of care veterans receive. Still, many remain concerned that a smaller workforce could mean longer wait times and reduced access to critical services for veterans.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to help veterans access VA benefits during this uncertain time. Learn about 4 key ways the VA changes could affect you below, and request a Free Veterans Packet to explore benefits available to you.
1. Longer Wait Times for Appointments
With fewer staff as a result of the mass layoffs, veterans could face longer wait times to meet with VA health care providers. Their appointments could also be cancelled and rescheduled for months later.
Veterans with mesothelioma cannot and do not deserve to wait. This cancer is very aggressive, and if months go by without it being addressed, it could spread significantly.
“One of my friends just had his VA appointment canceled by mail two days before the appointment for the third time,” said Zee Cook, a U.S. veteran and VA employee. “But if you’re trying to see a specialist like a cancer specialist, that’s all the time in the world.”
2. Slower Processing of VA Benefit Claims
Besides increased wait times for appointments, staffing cuts may force veterans to wait longer to get approved for VA benefits. The VA provides many benefits to veterans with mesothelioma, like disability payouts worth $4,044.91 monthly, health care coverage, and resources for family members.
To access these benefits, veterans need to file a VA claim. However, it already takes over 100 days to process a VA benefits claim. With fewer staff, it’s likely that the time will be even longer, leaving U.S. veterans waiting for the compensation and other benefits they deserve after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help veterans with mesothelioma access the VA benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. We can also assist in accessing other forms of compensation. Call (877) 450-8973 now to learn more.
3. Lower Level of Care for Veterans
As the VA’s mass layoffs continue, experts are worried that staffing shortages could impact the level of care veterans receive on an everyday basis.
In a bombshell report, the VA Office of Inspector General found that over 4,400 severe staffing shortages had been reported in VA hospitals during 2025. The rate of shortages was 50% higher than in 2024.
For veterans with mesothelioma, these concerns are significant. Not all VA health care facilities can even treat mesothelioma in the first place since the cancer is so rare. Veterans don’t deserve poor or delayed care, but more and more VA employees are expressing concern.
“We’re starving the VA of resources people-wise,” Irma Westmoreland, a VA registered nurse, said. “If I don’t have escort staff that take patients down to radiology, that means that the nurse at the bedside has to leave what they’re doing for their patient.”
4. Reliance on Private Health Care
Critics claim that the VA staffing cuts are being done to funnel more veterans into the private health care system. While veterans may decide to use private health insurance to get care after a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s often more cost-effective for them to go through the VA.
The VA typically considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, meaning veterans often have the lowest health care copays. Some medical services are even free. Veterans who use private health insurance plans to get mesothelioma treatment may face higher medical expenses.
This push to private care comes at a time when other public safety nets veterans rely on are also being slashed. Almost 20% of veterans rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and close to 1.6 million are enrolled in Medicaid. If VA health care becomes harder to access, these veterans will have fewer affordable alternatives.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can quickly help eligible veterans explore VA benefits, medical care, and financial resources. Learn more with our Free Veterans Packet.
The Future of VA Services for Veterans With Mesothelioma
Veterans with mesothelioma deserve the best quality care possible, and the VA still has top doctors and hospitals treating this cancer. However, the VA’s staff cuts have brought uncertainty about the future to employees and the veterans that use its services.
As of September 2025, no official announcements have been made as to future VA employee layoffs. However, critics say that the VA could become essentially a shell of itself, providing inadequate services to the point where veterans must use private health care.
“I don’t care how many times you say that we are not cutting services to the veteran,” says Irma Westmoreland. “If you don’t bring on staff, you’re cutting services to the veteran.”
If mass layoffs continue, veterans with mesothelioma may experience frustrating delays or denials of the services and benefits they are entitled to. If this happens, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center will be there to help veterans through their cancer journey.
Support for Veterans with Mesothelioma
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center is closely monitoring the ongoing VA shortages and will provide updates to keep veterans and their loved ones informed.
In the meantime, we can assist veterans in seeking the benefits, treatment, and compensation they deserve.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you:
- File for or increase your mesothelioma VA benefits
- Receive treatments from top mesothelioma doctors
- Seek financial compensation after a diagnosis
- Get the support you and your family need
Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 now to see all of the options available to you and your loved ones facing mesothelioma.
