The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) has issued an urgent letter to Congress regarding the devastating impact of the federal hiring freeze and recent mass dismissals of VA employees.

The hiring freeze threatens to disrupt not only veteran healthcare but also groundbreaking research at VA medical centers nationwide. Key studies on cancer treatments, opioid addiction, prosthetics, suicide prevention, and toxic exposures are now at risk of suspension or cancellation. 

FOVA has called on Congress and the Administration to immediately halt and rescind dismissals of key medical and research staff and to exempt all roles related to medical care and research from the hiring freeze. Without action, the freeze will not only diminish the quality of veteran healthcare but will also stifle medical innovation that benefits veterans and civilians alike.

NAVREF and our coalition partners stand firm in advocating for policies that ensure VA research continues to improve veteran health and advance medical breakthroughs.