WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Feb. 19, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) scorned the recent firing of 1,000 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs across the country as having a detrimental impact on veterans and their ability to access their earned benefits, according to a Feb. 19 news release.

In a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the release said that King questioned Paul Lawrence, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, on his support for these cuts and how he will work within the department to ensure that veterans are not victims of the VA’s quest to “reduce inefficiencies” – and rely solely on new technology – across the federal government. 

“On the layoffs, here is the problem," said King, as quoted in the release. "You have testified, and the press release has been, that this is done in a thoughtful way with reviews.

"I am a great advocate of Ronald Reagan's admonition ‘trust but verify.’ I would like to see some data that verifies that that took place.

"It is hard for me to believe that 1,000 people were laid off in a matter of weeks with the kind of thoughtful process that you are defining.... The next administration should explore how reviews would be accelerated with clearance from OMB to target significant cost savings from revising disability rating awards.’ That is a change of benefits. For future claimants, and listen to this, ‘while preserving them fully or partially for existing claimants.’” 

Senator King continued: “Partially is a pregnant term. That means you are talking about potentially reducing benefits for people who are getting them now…the phrase ‘preserving benefits fully or partially for existing claimants’ is not very reassuring to the veterans of this country.” 

Senator King then questioned the nominee on his support for AI in reviewing veterans claims, noting that AI is a tool, but cannot be used as a medical decision maker when lives are at stake.

“One is a suggestion for the VA to increase automation. ‘The best way to provide benefits more faster and more accurately is by using technology to perform most of the work.’ We are already learning in the private sector through insurance companies that giving AI the decision about making these kind of decisions does not work well. Do you think increased use of technology and artificial intelligence in claims processing is a good idea,” King asked.

According to the release, Lawrence responded: “Thank you for the question, Senator. If you noticed it said most of the work. The way the claim comes about is that there is a lot of work where you gather information and it is called development. That’s what takes so long, getting the veterans’ information in front of someone to make a decision. Technology can be used to gather the information faster. So, a government employee and a claims adjudicator can make the decision.”

King asked again, “You are testifying that you are not talking about AI making the decision but simply automating the collection of data?”

Lawrence replied: “It is called development. That is correct. The decision should be made by an individual, a V.A. employee as required by law. But also to bring judgment into things. I think technology is great but it is not the end all be all."

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King said he has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. 

Last year, he led the bipartisan Military Spouse Employment Act — pieces of which passed into law in the FY2024 NDAA — which allows military spouses to have a remote work career with any federal agency and helps them to maintain consistent employment should they move with their spouse.

He also introduced the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act to expand military family care to cover critical health care during pregnancies.

Most recently, he joined the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act to improve financial security for military families by ensuring life insurance packages for servicemembers and veterans adjust for increases in cost of living and inflation.