Trump, Musk plan to cut 80,000 Veterans Affairs jobs will cost lives | Opinion
I’m 92, and I never wrote a letter to the editor. These days it feels scary to do so. But the news that Elon Musk and President Donald Trump plan to eliminate 80,000 positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs galvanized me.
I worked in Raleigh for 14 years for three U.S. senators helping veterans get health care and other services they desperately needed at the V.A. The agency was already understaffed, and to cut services so drastically is criminal and will cost lives.
M. J. Joyner, Raleigh
Great school day
I was honored to be among soldiers, public safety workers and relatives as a reader for “Readers Are Leaders Day” at Dunn Elementary School in Harnett County. My experience was an absolute joy! I am a life-long advocate for public schools, and everything about that day confirmed my belief public schools are our country’s lifeblood.
I was met with professionalism from staff. Not once did I observe anything that was out of order, from the building to behavior. I experienced respect and warm hospitality from everyone. All of this was a manifestation of outstanding leadership. I commend Principal Dr. Beard, her staff and faculty. They have my admiration, respect and gratitude.
Jane Brocious, Raleigh
Senators grovel
The Republican-only senatorial meeting with Musk transpired with the senators “gently” begging him to let them know in advance of his destructive actions against our institutions and to allow them to offer some advice. These are elected officials bowing before an unelected official.
This is not okay. Musk fired massive numbers of essential federal workers, and branded as “parasites” Medicaid recipients, mostly children, disabled and the elderly poor. Musk is the true parasite, having received $38 billion in federal money.
Is the Republican-controlled Congress willing to betray everyone to stay in power, or are they deluded? Our country and citizens are being grievously harmed. Trump and Republicans don’t care.
Sarah Stein, Raleigh
Insane left
Americans are tired of antisemitism, boys in girls sports and a bloated wasteful federal government. The far-left favors all these. Until Democrats break from the insane left wing, they will continue to lose elections.
Lee Hortman, Raleigh
USAID
I’ve spent years fighting HIV/AIDS as an epidemiologist. I’m appalled by the dismantling of USAID.
In Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest countries, twenty years ago a thoroughfare was called “Coffin Road” because all you could buy was coffins due to the toll of HIV. Now the coffin sellers have moved to other work thanks to USAID.
Globally, U.S. leadership helped save 25 million lives through AIDS relief and USAID. USAID costs less than 1% of the federal budget. Both parties have praised it for 60 years. Dismantling USAID means treatment programs are shuttered, leaving millions without lifesaving medicine.
Dismantling USAID tells the world we no longer care about saving lives or protecting our homeland from diseases. It says we want Coffin Road back.
Brian Pence, Carrboro
Universities threatened
I watch with horror what the Trump administration is doing to our universities and urge all our NC members of Congress to stand up for universities’ rights to determine their curricula and safety policies. North Carolina has elite universities which create untold opportunities that improve lives and the nation.
Trump’s people have tried to kill NIH funding, which affects our universities. They have threatened Columbia University by withholding $400M in grants and alleging it doesn’t police antisemitism. Trump’s dastardly U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., has threatened Georgetown Law School because he thinks it teaches DEI.
Enough! To allow people to thrive, the administration must support education, not denigrate it. We demand that our NC congressional leaders fight for our universities.
Laura Stillman, Raleigh
Wolfspeed Doomed?
Your Mar. 6 article about Trump wanting to end the CHIPS program is troubling. Senator Thom Tillis, what are you going to say when an opponent stands in front of the abandoned Wolfspeed semiconductor plant in Siler City and says that you canceled 1,600 jobs and screwed the investors and American competitiveness by abolishing the CHIPS act that you voted for in 2022?
Daniel Oldman, Chapel Hill
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Trump, Musk plan to cut 80,000 Veterans Affairs jobs will cost lives | Opinion."