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Concerns over the future of veteran support programs extend beyond employment. Protesters also voiced fears about cuts to Medicare and other social services.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Veterans from nearly all branches of the military marched on the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, voicing strong opposition to sweeping federal job cuts that they say are having dire consequences for veterans nationwide.
The demonstrators, many of whom served in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to the Global War on Terrorism, criticized the Trump administration for what they called “disruptive and chaotic” reductions in the federal workforce.
“Today, we are part of a national demonstration in support of our Constitution and in protection of our benefits and services that our veterans deserve and earned,” said Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, a retired U.S. Army command sergeant major and former director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.
At the center of the protest were concerns over the significant number of veterans affected by the layoffs. Protesters cited that roughly 30% of federal workers are veterans, many of whom have lost their jobs as part of the administration’s efforts to reduce government spending.
John Dashiell, a U.S. Navy veteran who spent decades in the federal workforce, expressed frustration over the cuts.
“What is going on with our veterans is not right. We served our country; we served and earned our right to receive the benefits that were guaranteed to us when we signed up for service,” Dashiell said.
The Trump administration has framed the job reductions as part of a broader effort to shrink the size of the federal government and cut spending. However, many veterans argue that these measures threaten essential services, including those provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“I took an oath to the Constitution. I did not take an oath to someone who thinks they can just do away with us,” Dashiell added. “We are not suckers. We are not traitors.”
Concerns over the future of veteran support programs extend beyond employment. Protesters also voiced fears about potential cuts to Medicare and other social services, particularly as the average age of military veterans hovers around 65 years old. The administration has not ruled out changes to these programs, raising anxieties among retired service members.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of employees at federal agencies, a decision that is expected to be tied up in legal battles for months.
For Alvarado-Ramos, the stakes of the ongoing cuts are deeply personal.
“Right now, the way that it’s been working, our veterans are already feeling the effects of the decisions that have been made by this administration,” she said. “Losing jobs after they have worked so hard to be able to get them.”
As the march concluded, demonstrators reiterated their demand that the VA remain fully funded and that veterans’ benefits be protected. Their message was clear: they will continue to fight for the rights and services they believe they have earned through their service.
“We’re here to be able to say, ‘Not on our watch, not on our watch,'” Alvarado-Ramos declared.