Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Reinstate Veterans Fired by the Trump Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) in introducing the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, legislation that would reinstate veterans who were fired from their federal jobs as part of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and mass layoff of federal employees. Veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce, and it’s estimated that the Administration has already fired more than 6,000 veterans.
“President Trump has fired more veterans in his first few weeks in office than any U.S. President. This is unacceptable. These men and women have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, and now they are being kicked to the curb by a President who has previously called servicemembers and veterans losers and suckers,” said Kaine. “Every one of my colleagues should be able to support this legislation that would reinstate veterans who were fired as part of the Trump Administration’s mass, indiscriminate firing of federal employees.”
Kaine has been one of the leading voices in Congress speaking out in opposition of the Trump Administration’s illegal mass firings of federal employees, which disproportionately affect veterans. Kaine brought Fairfax resident and veteran Jason King as his guest to President Trump’s joint address to Congress. Jason was fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division by the Trump Administration.
The Protect Veteran Jobs Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA-45).
The Protect Veteran Jobs Act is endorsed by VoteVets, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AMVETS, the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
“Firing veterans who perform essential duties isn’t government efficiency, it’s cruel,” said VoteVets. “Service Members deserve opportunities to transition back into the workforce and should be guaranteed support—not the added stress of unemployment. We applaud Senators Duckworth and Kim’s effort to right this wrong and proudly endorse their bill.”
“As a veteran of the Army and a former civilian employee at the Department of Defense, what Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Trump administration are doing to patriotic veterans across this country is a disgrace—plain and simple,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “We should be celebrating Americans willing to wear a second uniform in service to their country. Instead, they are being treated to insults, chaos, and pink slips. It is unacceptable, and we applaud Senators Duckworth and Kim for taking concrete action to stand up for veterans and fight this injustice.”
“AMVETS is deeply concerned about the recent large-scale dismissal of veterans from the federal workforce. Now more than ever, their leadership and experience are essential, and we stand firmly behind efforts to prevent any veteran from being unjustly fired,” said AMVETS National Executive Director Joe Chenelly. “Real reform requires addressing the true problems within the system—not placing that burden on the shoulders of those who have served.”
“The unjust firing of our nation’s veterans from their federal positions is an affront to their service and sacrifice,” said Will Attig, Executive Director Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO. “The Protect Veteran Jobs Act is crucial to restoring the dignity and livelihoods of those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country, both in uniform and in civilian roles.”
Text of the legislation is available here.
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