Leo Shane

I appreciate the invite.

I appreciate the invite.

Yeah, I'm not sure that they have taken it all back. We've gotten an official word from VA that they're reviewing these contracts and that they will make sure that there's no impact, there's concerns about it. But I've talked to sources within the VA and some of these offices. They haven't gotten official word that these have been rescinded. They're still working under the assumption that

Yeah, I'm not sure that they have taken it all back. We've gotten an official word from VA that they're reviewing these contracts and that they will make sure that there's no impact, there's concerns about it. But I've talked to sources within the VA and some of these offices. They haven't gotten official word that these have been rescinded. They're still working under the assumption that

These will eventually go away, that at least most of the contracts they've started looking at will disappear at some point in the future here. So there's just a lot of uncertainty. I think the VA is now realizing just how deep some of these cuts are, and they're trying to claw back. Maybe some of these will be reversed.

These will eventually go away, that at least most of the contracts they've started looking at will disappear at some point in the future here. So there's just a lot of uncertainty. I think the VA is now realizing just how deep some of these cuts are, and they're trying to claw back. Maybe some of these will be reversed.

But at least officially, these offices haven't been told that they're in the clear.

But at least officially, these offices haven't been told that they're in the clear.

The common theme with these contracts seems to be that they're not direct services. These aren't like doctors who are working directly with a patient or someone who's actually taking over a funeral and actually transporting a casket or doing things like that. These are support services. So it may be a contract to you know, helps coordinate that.

The common theme with these contracts seems to be that they're not direct services. These aren't like doctors who are working directly with a patient or someone who's actually taking over a funeral and actually transporting a casket or doing things like that. These are support services. So it may be a contract to you know, helps coordinate that.

I've heard from folks who are involved in benefits processing who aren't directly doing the benefits claims themselves, but what they are doing is they're helping guide veterans through that process, making it easier for them. So clearly a very valuable service, but at least in the eyes of someone in the administration, it's not a direct benefit to veterans.

I've heard from folks who are involved in benefits processing who aren't directly doing the benefits claims themselves, but what they are doing is they're helping guide veterans through that process, making it easier for them. So clearly a very valuable service, but at least in the eyes of someone in the administration, it's not a direct benefit to veterans.

So that's what seems to be the trip up here. You know, the VA is insisting that they're not going to hurt anything that would benefit veterans, beneficiaries, families, but it feels like they're going after these secondary services that are still very valuable but maybe don't directly touch veterans in connecting them to medical care or some sort of disability payout.

So that's what seems to be the trip up here. You know, the VA is insisting that they're not going to hurt anything that would benefit veterans, beneficiaries, families, but it feels like they're going after these secondary services that are still very valuable but maybe don't directly touch veterans in connecting them to medical care or some sort of disability payout.

Yeah, right now, we're just guessing. I have heard that there were scheduled mass firings at VA tomorrow as well with the Defense Department. So, those might be on hold at this point. I mean, as you said, the judge's ruling, we've just got the loose parameters of it right now. He does say that he doesn't have the power to reinstate anyone, but that OPM also doesn't have the power to fire anyone.

Yeah, right now, we're just guessing. I have heard that there were scheduled mass firings at VA tomorrow as well with the Defense Department. So, those might be on hold at this point. I mean, as you said, the judge's ruling, we've just got the loose parameters of it right now. He does say that he doesn't have the power to reinstate anyone, but that OPM also doesn't have the power to fire anyone.

So, It feels like this might just end up in a situation where VA has to actually take the step of being the ones who order the dismissals, being the ones who actually accept the responsibility for it. And that's not a small task.

So, It feels like this might just end up in a situation where VA has to actually take the step of being the ones who order the dismissals, being the ones who actually accept the responsibility for it. And that's not a small task.

As you referenced, there's a lot of lawmakers out there who are furious with Secretary Doug Collins for not standing up for veterans, for not doing his part to say everything in VA should be protected. So, you know, we'll see in the next, you know, next few days here exactly what it means for those folks who've been dismissed.

As you referenced, there's a lot of lawmakers out there who are furious with Secretary Doug Collins for not standing up for veterans, for not doing his part to say everything in VA should be protected. So, you know, we'll see in the next, you know, next few days here exactly what it means for those folks who've been dismissed.