Republican Representative Greg Murphy of North Carolina said he “can’t guarantee” that budget cuts won’t negatively affect veterans.
Newsweek reached out to Murphy’s office via email Monday evening for comment.
Why It Matters
Since taking office at the end of January, President Donald Trump has issued sweeping changes via executive orders and implemented the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the stated goal of cutting waste and abuse from the federal government’s budget.
Billionaire Elon Musk was initially tasked with leading DOGE. Under Trump’s guidance, Musk and DOGE have initiated mass firings of government workers and made numerous cuts to federal agencies, including dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Critics have accused the Trump administration of exceeding the power of the executive branch and have responded by filing a number of lawsuits intended to block executive orders and to limit the reach of DOGE.
What To Know
During an interview with CNN‘s Brianna Keilar on Monday, Murphy was asked about budget cuts, as more than 1,000 staff members from the Department of Veterans Affairs were let go. Murphy is vice chair of Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
Murphy was asked about what voters in his district think of the cuts. He replied in part by arguing that it was “a national emergency to try to get our finances under control.”
Keilar then asked if veterans’ benefits and care will not be affected by the financial restructuring. Murphy responded, “No, I can’t guarantee anything.”
“But the whole purpose, again, of restructuring is to make sure that that agency is efficient,” Murphy added. “And you know, look, I care for our veterans. One out of 10 constituents of mine are veterans. It’s a real issue in eastern North Carolina.”
“The real issue is also when somebody can’t get benefits, and they’re put off their doctor’s appointments for eight or 10 months when they can’t get care,” he continued. “That is where an agency has failed. We’re trying to get an agency that actually works for the people that are supposed to be taken care of.”
What People Are Saying
Progressive veterans group VoteVets, responding to Murphy’s remarks in a post to X, formerly Twitter: “Republican Greg Murphy was asked point-blank if Veterans would lose their benefits due to GOP cuts. His answer? ‘No, I can’t guarantee anything.’ This is the Republican Party under Trump: shrugging off the well-being of Veterans while pushing reckless cuts. They talk about supporting the Troops—then refuse to stand up for them when it matters.”
Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, while sharing an image of herself with Veterans of Foreign Wars members to X on Monday: “Proud to meet with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Nearly 30% of federal workers are veterans. Americans who raised their hands to serve us in the Armed Forces and then continued that service in the federal government. Cutting their jobs is a disgrace.”
What Happens Next
The extent to which the Trump budget cuts could affect veterans remains unclear. Any further cuts or mass firings are all but certain to inspire additional backlash from veterans groups and advocates.
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