National Veterans Affairs cuts won’t affect Leeds campus, satellite clinics in region

LEEDS — None of the more than 1,000 employees dismissed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last week work at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Health Care System that serves veterans, according to Sarah Robinson, spokesperson for the Leeds-based medical center.

VA Central Western Massachusetts Health Care System, based in Northampton, oversees clinics in Greenfield, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield, in addition to services and programs in Leeds.

The employees dismissed on Feb. 13 include non-bargaining unit probationary employees who have served less than a year in a competitive service appointment or who have served less than two years in an excepted service appointment, the U.S. Veterans Affairs said in a statement.

The VA said it will redirect the $98 million in annual savings back toward health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries.

There are currently more than 43,000 probationary employees across the department, the vast majority of whom are exempt from the recent personnel actions because they serve in mission-critical positions — primarily those supporting benefits and services for VA beneficiaries — or are covered under a collective bargaining agreement. VA employees who elected to participate in the Office of Personnel Management’s deferred resignation program are also exempt from the personnel actions.

“To be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. “In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”