Pittsburgh VA abruptly cancels town hall tour after just 1 stop

Without explanation, the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System has canceled a series of town halls in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

The agency broke the news in a bare-bones press release Thursday.

What was supposed to be a regional tour where veterans could interact directly with leaders of the Pittsburgh VA has ended after just one stop, in Washington County on Tuesday.

“This was so important, and I don’t understand why this is happening,” said Randy Gleason, service officer at American Legion Post 641 in Baden, Beaver County, which was scheduled on the town hall circuit. “Heck, we were offering the space at no charge.”

Amid a push to “improve operational efficiency” at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the town hall cancellations squander staff’s planning efforts and funding spent on advertisements across the region.

The Pittsburgh VA did not immediately respond to questions about the cancellations.

The first and only town hall, hosted by American Legion Post 641, appeared to go smoothly. Despite widespread concern the Trump administration’s downsizing initiatives could harm care, Pittsburgh VA Director Donald Koenig fielded only one question on the topic.

Afterward, he sat down for an exclusive interview with TribLive, where he shared additional details of how the push from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to shed staff has impacted the Pittsburgh VA.

By its own count, the Pittsburgh VA has lost 238 employees since January, with another 87 set to leave by the end of the year. When factoring in the 151 workers who have or will soon join the system, its workforce is set to shrink about 3% this year.

Nationwide, the Department of Veterans Affairs is on pace to lose nearly 30,000 employees by October through ordinary attrition, early retirement and other means.

Koenig noted the local departures were primarily among support staff and have no impact on “our ability to take care of veterans.” Hundreds of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals did ask to “leave early,” according to Koenig, but were denied because they provide patient care.

The minor exodus has resulted in a shortage of van drivers to take veterans to and from appointments and a clinician having to double as administrative assistant, in at least one case.

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, questioned whether VA officials in Washington, D.C., put the kibosh on the town halls and said he’s demanding answers. A veteran himself, he also criticized the administration for its firings and hiring freezes.

Officials originally planned to stop at American Legion Post 641 in Baden on Monday; American Veterans Post 103 in Hopwood, Fayette County, on Tuesday; American Legion Post 344 in Jeannette on Wednesday; and the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, on Aug. 15.

Each event promised a chance to learn more about resources for veterans, such as vocational rehabilitation and women’s health services, and allow attendees a chance to enroll in VA health care.

Jim Henderson, commander of the American Legion Post in Jeannette, had not heard from the VA as of about 4 p.m. Thursday, but said he came across information online about the cancellations.

He noted the event is still going ahead, minus the VA-led town hall, and attendees will have the chance to meet with officials from the recently expanded Westmoreland County Division of Veterans Affairs and Services.

“I hope that it doesn’t keep veterans away,” Henderson said. “We’re still going to follow through with our part of it.”

The VA told Gleason it will still be sending a low-level representative to Baden on Monday in case any veterans show up.

But anyone who drives by the post should get the memo that the event isn’t taking place.

Right after he heard the news, Gleason debated taking down a sign advertising the town hall but decided to instead write a one-word message in magic marker: Canceled.