AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Registered nurses gathered outside Congressman Rick Allen’s Augusta office on Friday, Sept. 12, to call for full funding and staffing for the VA.

The nurses expressed concerns that the proposed budget cuts could weaken care for thousands of local veterans and shift more services to private sectors.

“Further cuts in the VA will just cause the VA to die. It’s a cycle,” stated Irma Westmoreland from National Nurses United. “The more patients you send out into the community, the fewer patients and the less money the VA will have. We believe that the absolute best care for our patients is provided within the VA.”

“Our nurses are overworked, and we’re facing a very severe nursing shortage right now,” said Tamika Kendrick, the local director of National Nurses United.

Nurses there said their message is simple: fully fund and fully staff the VA so veterans get the care they earned.

Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie