Therapy and other mental health services at the Department of Veterans Affairs have “been thrown into turmoil” following changes implemented by the Trump administration, the New York Times reported March 22.
Mental health providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs told the Times they are concerned about patient privacy and staffing challenges amid return-to-office requirements and layoffs.
The Times spoke with more than 30 current and recently terminated mental health workers at the VA.
In January, President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal employees to return to in-person work. Some therapists told the Times they were required to conduct telehealth therapy in open office spaces with other providers, making it difficult to maintain patients’ privacy.
A spokesperson for the VA told the Times the department will “make accommodations as needed so employees have enough space to work and comply with industry standards for privacy.”
VA employees also told the Times they are concerned about staffing for suicide prevention and other efforts. The Trump administration has said it plans to eliminate 800,000 positions across the VA, and 1,900 probationary employees at the department have already been terminated, according to the Times.
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