‘Severe’ staff shortages at US veterans’ hospitals, watchdog finds

Inspector general report comes as department has lost thousands of core' healthcare workers under Trump

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is experiencing severe" staff shortages at all its hospitals, with the number of shortages increasing by 50% this fiscal year, according to a new report from the agency's independent watchdog.

The report, released on Tuesday, came a day after the Guardian revealed the department had lost thousands of healthcare professionals deemed core" to the system under Donald Trump, without which, the agency said, mission-critical work cannot be completed".