As a veteran, I am always favorably inclined toward any program that serves the needs of veterans, such as the Veterans Administration.

Today, that is countered by the necessity and once in a century opportunity to right size our bloated Jabba the Hutt government.

What’s going on at the Veterans Administration, Big Red Car?

Great question, dear reader, like you read my bloody mind.

Here’s the basic facts:

 1. Since 2003, the number of veterans has DECLINED by 37% arriving to a current level of 15.8MM veterans in 2025.

[Important note: Not every veteran qualifies for treatment at the Veterans Administration, only those with direct service connected injuries.]

I use total number of veterans because that is a much easier number to verify.

 2. Since 2003, the number of workers at the Veterans Administration has INCREASED by 115% to a total of 474K +/-.

As you can see, the trend lines go in opposite directions: number of veterans is decreasing and number of caregivers and administrators is increasing.

Veterans Administration facilities

To be fair to the Veterans Administration they operate a ton of facilities:

 1. They operate 172 medical centers with some of them being gigantic.

 

 2. The Veterans Administration operates 1138 outpatient treatment clinics.

 3. In addition, there are 300 counseling clinics.

 4. The Veterans Administration operates 134 national cemeteries including Arlington National Cemetery.

It is always tempting when trying to streamline any organization to look for merger opportunites and merger efficiencies.

Hmmm, Big Red Car, what do you think?

I really don’t know what to think, dear reader.

 1. The largest number of veterans were from World War II and that group of men — the Greatest Generation — is dying off. There are fewer than 66,000 World War II veterans alive today.

There are about 7.8MM Gulf War Era veterans.

There are about 5.7MM Vietnam War Era veterans.

There are fewer than 750K Korean War veterans.

Of all veterans, 78% served during a period of war and 22% served during a period of peace.

 2. Declining customer counts typically drive a similar reduction in staffing. Makes sense, no?

 3. When you rattle the chain of persons at the Veterans Administration they will say that care has become progressively more mental health oriented (hence the 300 counseling clinics) and that unique wounds such as traumatic brain injury are more common with Gulf War Era veterans.

 4. Administrative technology is increasingly replacing workers though the Veterans Administration does not appear to be wildly aujtomated.

 5. The technology involved in medicine in diagnosis requires a more highly trained operator, but it again is supposed to reduce staff count.

So, what are we to think and, more importantly, what are we to do?

Bottom line it, Big Red Car, getting a massage in a few minutes

Fine, dear reader.

 1. The Veterans Administration potential customer count is DOWN 37% since the Gulf War Era.

 2. Staffing at the Veterans Administration is UP by 115%.

 3. This is in an environment of automating many administrative functions and in increasing use of technology in medicine.,

I think the Veterans Administration needs a good hard analysis from DOGE.

But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car and a veteran.