Assembly hearing: proposed federal staffing cuts would strain VA care and local veteran services

Assemblymember Schiavo, chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs, opened an informational hearing saying federal proposals to cut Department of Veterans Affairs staff and other federal programs threaten the health, housing and employment supports veterans rely on.

Witnesses told the committee that planned reductions — including an administration proposal to cut tens of thousands of federal staff — would slow claims processing, reduce clinical and research capacity at the VA and undermine county and nonprofit programs that help veterans secure benefits and housing.

The hearing featured testimony from CalVet Deputy Secretary Roberto Herrera, Los Angeles County veterans director Jim Zenner, legal-services representatives from Swords to Plowshares and a panel of community providers. Herrera said California has nearly 1.5 million veterans and described CalVet's work supporting county veteran service officers and community-based partners to connect veterans to earned benefits and care.

"We seek to protect the rights of all who participate in the legislative process," the committee chair said as she introduced the hearing. She also described personal experience with a veteran family member who benefitted from VA care and cited the PACT Act's expansion of eligibility: "Since this was enacted in 2022, more than 5,600,000 veterans have been screened for toxic exposure under the PACT Act," she said.

Major General Matthew Beavers, the California Adjutant General, described how readiness and state deployments rely on federal funding and standards and warned that reduced DoD funding could mean fewer flying hours, less equipment recapitalization and decreased training. He also described the state's recent LA fire response, saying the California Military Department mobilized quickly and at peak had about 3,500 personnel working with local law enforcement.

Nonprofit legal advocates and county VSOs described operational strains. Jim Zenner, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, told lawmakers county veteran service officers (CVSOs) file many claims and serve at-risk veterans who often rely first on county supports. He said the PACT Act expanded California eligibility by roughly 200,000 veterans and that some counties are handling more claims with less subvention funding.

Moe Seeder, legal director at Swords to Plowshares, and other legal-services witnesses urged the Legislature to expand state funding for free legal assistance in the VA claims process to prevent delayed or erroneous denials. Seeder cited casework and grant-funded projects that produced substantial federal benefits for clients and argued that legal representation — especially for complex mental-health claims and discharge upgrades — increases approvals and speeds access to benefits.

Committee members asked witnesses about what the state can do. Witnesses urged increased state investment in CVSOs, better data-sharing between VetPro and county systems to identify veterans accessing county services, and sustained funding for community programs that are currently covered by competitive or time-limited grants.

The hearing closed with lawmakers stressing that California must protect recent gains — including reductions in veteran homelessness — and coordinate with federal partners to shield services from abrupt staffing and budget changes.

Ending: Committee leaders said they will pursue legislation and budget proposals this session to shore up state supports for veterans in health care, legal help and housing should federal cuts materialize.