Veterans Fired From Federal Jobs Say They Feel Betrayed, Including Some Who Voted For Trump

Nathan Hooven is a disabled Air Force veteran who voted for Donald Trump in November. Barely three months later, he's now unemployed and says he feels betrayed by the president's dramatic downsizing of the federal government that cost him his job.

"I think a lot of other veterans voted the same way, and we have been betrayed," said Hooven, who was fired in February from a Virginia medical facility for veterans. "I feel like my life and the lives of so many like me, so many that have sacrificed so much for this country, are being destroyed."

The mass firing of federal employees since Trump took office in January is pushing out veterans who make up 30 of the nation's federal workforce. The exact number of veterans who have lost their job is unknown, although House Democrats last month estimated that it was potentially in the thousands.

More could be on the way. The Department of Veterans Affairs - a major employer of veterans - is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press . Veterans represent more than 25 of the VA's workforce.

In interviews, several veterans who supported candidates of both parties described their recent job losses as a betrayal of their military service. They are particularly angered by how it happened: in an email that cited inadequate job performance - despite, they say, receiving positive reviews in their roles.