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I am writing as a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, who served from 1973 to 1977. But more importantly, I am writing as a relative of a veteran who took his own life after multiple tours in Afghanistan.
In a recent meeting with fellow veterans, one from California and one from Virginia, I learned that DOGE has cut service by removing support staff in veteran clinics that provide mental health counseling. The counselors were not cut, but the staff that provide scheduling, billing, etc., were cut. Instead of just counseling, are the counselors now also responsible for support as well? Won’t that result in less hours of counseling?
We are losing 131 veterans a day to suicide according to the Veterans Administration. It is already difficult to get some ailing veterans to seek help. On top of that, now add less support for veterans at risk.
President Donald Trump has called veterans losers and suckers. Elon Musk has shown more concern with cost savings than careful cost savings measures. It is clear to me that these two so-called businessmen have poor personnel management skills. It also is clear to me that care of veterans, especially war veterans, is not a priority for this administration.
We need to speak up to save at-risk war veterans. So, instead of thanking a veteran for his or her service, support them by voicing your concern to Washington. Let’s not let Washington treat our war veterans as trash to be discarded.
Dave Hobbins
Fort Kent
