White House Adviser Says Some Veterans 'Not Fit for Jobs' After Layoffs

White House adviser Alina Habba sparked controversy Tuesday by suggesting that laid-off federal workers, including military veterans, may not be "fit to have a job at this moment." Habba made these remarks during a press briefing on the White House lawn, responding to inquiries about fired workers who Democrats plan to invite to President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress later that evening. Despite facing criticism for her insensitive comments, Habba defended the recent cuts, stating that she lacked sympathy for those who have lost their jobs.

“I really don’t feel sorry for them,” Habba said. “They should get back to work for the American people, like President Trump and this administration.” When a reporter pointed out that some military veterans were among the laid-off workers, Habba argued that while President Trump values those in uniform, fiscal responsibility necessitates using taxpayer dollars for employees who are actually working.

A Divisive Statement

Habba's statement regarding veterans drew immediate backlash from several quarters. Emily Erroa, an Army veteran who was terminated from the Department of Energy last month, labeled Habba’s remarks as "ridiculous." Erroa, who previously served at the Department of Veterans Affairs, emphasized that the notion that remote workers are unproductive is inaccurate and insulting, particularly for veterans who may have specific diagnoses stemming from their service. Jesus Tony Ruiz, another Army veteran laid off from the VA last month, criticized Habba's comments directly, stating, "So what did I do for my country? I served my country, and now they fired me. So no, they’re not helping me out whatsoever." Ruiz was invited to speak to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday by the progressive group VoteVets.

The Background of the Layoffs

The Trump administration's mass firings of federal workers are part of a broader effort spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at identifying waste, fraud, and abuse within the government. The goal is to drastically reduce federal funding across various departments and agencies. The majority of those laid off were probationary employees, individuals who had generally been in their roles for less than two years, although some possessed significantly more experience in the federal government.

The heads of the White House budget and personnel offices instructed federal agencies last week to prepare for further large-scale layoffs in the coming weeks and months. Former workers and several groups representing federal employees have filed numerous lawsuits challenging these layoffs. A federal judge ruled last week that a memo from the Office of Personnel Management directing agencies to plan for mass layoffs was "illegal," although this ruling did not reinstate the fired employees.

Impact on Veterans

Military veterans hold positions across the federal government, with many serving in the Department of Veterans Affairs. In February, the VA terminated over 2,400 employees, although the exact number of veterans among those laid off remains unclear. On Monday, the VA also canceled 585 "non-mission-critical or duplicative contracts."