Rep. Derek Tran, a newly elected Democratic congressman and U.S. Army veteran, has introduced legislation aimed at reinstating thousands of veterans who have been dismissed from federal jobs since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The bill, which faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House, seeks to reinstate veterans fired without cause, require federal agencies to report veteran dismissals to Congress, and demand justifications for their terminations.
“They sacrificed so much to protect our country, to defend our freedom,” Tran said. “Now they’ve been kicked to the curb.”
Mass Firings Under the Trump Administration
According to Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, nearly 6,000 veterans have lost their jobs in various federal agencies under Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk. Overall, the administration has reportedly terminated 38,000 federal employees in a sweeping effort to reduce government spending.
Tran argues that these dismissals represent a broader attack on federal workers, while Republicans defend the cuts as necessary for downsizing what they view as an overgrown bureaucracy.
“It’s almost like permission to let them do what they want—cutting employees in the name of saving taxpayer dollars, only to turn around and use those savings for tax cuts,” Tran told the Associated Press.
A Nonpartisan Push for Veteran Protections
Though the bill is unlikely to gain traction in a divided Congress, Tran insists that his effort is not a partisan issue. He has reached out to Republican lawmakers in hopes of finding bipartisan support.
“I’ve been trying to get support. This is just the right thing for our veterans,” he said. “This is not a Democratic bill. This is a bill to protect those who served.”
For decades, the federal government has actively recruited veterans for civil service roles through initiatives like the Veterans Employment Initiative, introduced under President Barack Obama. The program sought to streamline the hiring and retention of veterans, recognizing the leadership, discipline, and skills they bring to government work.
From Refugee to Lawmaker
Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, has a personal connection to government programs that support veterans and immigrants. His parents fled Vietnam during the war, and their resettlement in California shaped his commitment to public service.
“As the son of refugees, I always felt this debt to this country for taking in my parents,” Tran said. “I always had a sense of wanting to give back.”
That sense of duty led him to enlist in the U.S. Army, pursue a law degree, and later become a small business owner before entering politics. In 2023, Tran unseated Republican Rep. Michelle Steel, becoming the third Vietnamese American ever elected to Congress.
A Long Road Ahead
While Tran’s bill faces significant obstacles, it highlights the ongoing battle over federal employment, government downsizing, and veteran rights. As Trump continues to push for major restructuring of federal agencies, Democrats are expected to use these job cuts as a key issue in upcoming elections.
For Tran, the fight is personal. “I marched into the recruiter’s office without telling my parents or friends and enlisted,” he said. “I knew I wanted to serve this country.”
Now, he hopes to continue that service—this time, in the halls of Congress.
