Around 150 veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs workers protested the Trump administration outside the VA Medical Center in West Haven on Monday.

They said that $2 billion in proposed cuts could decimate vets’ health care, but the administration defends eliminating what it calls wasteful spending.

Many of the federal workers are also veterans. They are worried about their health care – and their jobs.

“So many veterans get into federal employment, so it’s imperative that we support them and make sure that they have good, stable jobs, and that they’re able to provide for their families,” said Matthew Watson, a U.S. Army veteran.

Protesters said that President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts will decimate services for vets.

“More and more veterans are going to be without health care. And some will die,” said U.S. Navy Reserves veteran Craig Minor. “I’m here to fight for my VA benefits. As a veteran, I’m eligible for medical care that Trump wants to take away from me and force me to buy private health insurance.”

Since Trump took office, the VA laid off 2,400 employees – including 1,400 probationary and “non-mission critical positions” announced last week.

“We were taking millions of contracts in dollars to create things like PowerPoint slides and meeting minutes,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins posted on X last Tuesday. “Those are things that we’re saving now that we can put back into health care, benefits – making sure that we’re doing what the VA is supposed to do.”

But union leaders said Monday that critical positions have been cut, including a veterans’ suicide hotline.

“They fired the scheduler who gets veterans appointments,” said one VA Hospital employee “What do you say about that?”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is targeting 875 Veterans Administration contracts, according to an Associated Press analysis.

One contract that was on the chopping block supports assessing veterans’ disability ratings. Those evaluations are one of the most important steps needed for a veteran to qualify to have their medical care covered and receive financial compensation if they were wounded due to their military service.

An inaccurate rating can have a long-term impact on their access to care and financial support.

Other services include post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, cancer care and toxic burn pit treatment.

The White House temporarily suspended those cuts following backlash from vets and some congressional Republicans.

“We take good care of our veterans, so we’re watching that very carefully and we hope it’s going to be a small a number as possible,” Trump said on Friday. “But we are having great success in slimming down our government.”

The VA said in a statement to the AP that its review of the contracts “is ongoing and not final.”

Many protesting veterans said they support cutting government waste, but said they don’t trust Musk.

“I am the taxpayer. These veterans are the taxpayers,” said Watson. “So no, I don't think that they are quite looking out for us as they are looking out for their profit margin.”

Trump will address Congress Tuesday night. Sen. Richard Blumenthal has invited a fired inspector general from the VA in Bristol as his guest.

“Elon Musk, we are not going to let you give our veterans the middle finger,” he told the crowd.