During President Trump's upcoming address to Congress, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) plans to highlight the effects of recent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminations on veterans' services. She will be accompanied by Andrew Lennox, a Marine veteran and former VA employee who was among those dismissed.

Lennox, a veteran of deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, began his VA role in Ann Arbor, Michigan, shortly before DOGE initiated widespread firings of probationary employees across the federal government. Slotkin's speech is expected to center on these workforce reductions, particularly their impact on former service members like Lennox.

Lennox received an email on February 13th informing him of his termination, citing his performance as the reason. However, Lennox asserts that he never received a performance evaluation during his two months at the VA. He shared the email, which was identical to those received by other dismissed VA colleagues, with media outlets and members of Congress. The email raised concerns about the justification for the firings, especially considering some terminated employees had recently been promoted for excellent work.

Lennox discovered that he was one of approximately 1,000 VA employees let go by DOGE. While DOGE claims these cuts will save over $98 million annually, Lennox has expressed concern over the abrupt notification process and the potential negative consequences for veteran care. He has advocated for a more thoughtful transition process to minimize disruption to services.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, will likely address the broader implications of DOGE's federal workforce reductions in her response to President Trump's address. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Slotkin's remarks will present a vision of hope and a better future for all Americans.