March 18, 2025 2:50 a.m. 

On Monday, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said they have joined Senate colleagues in introducing comprehensive legislation they believe would protect veterans, military spouses and VA employees in Oregon and nationwide from cuts at the Veteran’s Administration and across the federal government.

A joint release claimed those cuts were indiscriminately targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Wyden said, “Veterans and the benefits they earned with their service to our country are under indiscriminate and unjust attack by Trump, Musk and their flunkies at DOGE”. Wyden said, “The Putting Veteran’s First Act would ensure these unduly fired employees are returned to work and ensure that service for veterans is not interrupted for one day longer”.

Merkley said, “There is no making sense in the Trump Administration’s cruel, reckless plans to fire over 80,000 VA employees, many of them veterans themselves. Our veterans and military families deserve the full measure of appreciation, not this stunning betrayal by President Trump”. Merkley said, “All my colleagues should support this bill to reinstate and protect these heroes from Trump and Republican’s illegal and reckless cuts”.

The legislation was led by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

A summary of the legislation is linked at: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/710073EE-B15D-4FA7-AE7D-B5591F1D2F1A