Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Presses Secretary Collins on Staffing Failures at VA Chesapeake North Battlefield Clinic
“This lack of focus on adequately staffing VA’s clinics and hospitals in Hampton Roads comes after a year of attacks on the federal workforce.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins demanding answers and transparency on the continued low staffing levels at the VA North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake, Virginia that opened in April 2025. Secretary Collins has repeatedly stated that the facility would be fully staffed by January 2026.
“When the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic first opened on April 17, 2025, with only 150 of the authorized 550 staff, I expressed concern that the clinic would be opening with only 25-30 percent of the staff needed,” the letter states. “You have repeatedly stated that the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic would be fully staffed and operational by January 2026. Unfortunately, as of January 28, 2026, the North Battlefield Clinic has only hired 340 employees, or 62 percent, of the staff required to operate at full capacity.”
Congressman Scott also highlighted the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on the federal workforce.
“This lack of focus on adequately staffing VA’s clinics and hospitals in Hampton Roads comes after nearly a year of attacks on the federal workforce,” wrote Congressman Scott. “In just the first 100 days of this administration, Donald Trump took radical steps to cut services to the VA and institute a hiring freeze across the system. He then further squeezed our federal workforce and fired more than 6,000 veterans from their jobs. On August 7, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it would terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees. I am concerned that further efforts to diminish and reorganize the VA workforce will exert additional strain on the Department and further exacerbate ongoing hiring challenges at the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic.”
Congressman Scott asked Secretary Collins to respond to his list of questions by February 27, 2026.
Full text of the letter can be found by CLICKING HERE.