AUGUSTA, Ga. () – VA registered nurses hosting a town hall meeting Thursday night in response to the Administration’s actions against federal workers and cuts to veteran’s healthcare.

The National Nurses Organizing Committee along with community members and other organizations gathered to discuss protesting the VA along with federal workers and veteran care.

Dozens gathered at the Transforming Lives Baptist Church to listen to different people from the organization speak about their experiences.

Irma Westmoreland, RN, Chair of National Nurses United’s VA Division, tells me how these cuts can affect the nurse’s quality of care.

“I don’t care how many times you say that ‘we are not cutting services to the veteran’ if you don’t bring on staff, you’re cutting services to the veteran. What we need is for the VA to be fully funded, what’s happening is we’re starving the VA of resources money wise and we’re starving the VA of resources people wise,” Westmoreland said.

Westmoreland explains how the community can help.

“To come together and demand from our Congress, from our Senators, from our Congress people to step up and do the right thing and fully fund the VA so that every veteran can get their care at the VA like they should,” said Westmoreland.

Zee Cook is a local veteran who served 10 years in the Navy an now is the Lead Organizer for 50501 Augusta.

She says it is important for veterans to attend these events so they know what is going on.

“Gets them a little bit more involved with trying to make a difference and trying to stop these cuts. It also lets veterans know that obviously this is not something that people are just not working or not putting in the same effort they were before. These workers that support our veterans at the VA, they care so much about the quality of care they give to the veterans,” said Copk.

To learn more about National Nurses United you can find the link here.