Concerns are growing about a shortage of staff at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs, with VA officials telling Senator Martin Heinrich's office that they are working to fill 300 vacant positions at the facility, to include positions ranging from janitorial staff to administrators to medical positions.
The VA told Senator Heinrich there were 2,926 employees at the start of the 2026 calendar year and that number declined to 2,894 employees at the start of June. The VA says the decrease is consistent with routine turnover, and they are working to recruit 323 vacant positions, at the time of the senator's inquiry. However, the VA says as of July there were 223 vacant positions to include clinical and non-clinical staff.
There was also a reported shortage of anesthesiologists.
The VA told Senator Heinrich's office that 30 cases were transferred or attempted to be transferred to UNM. 17 cases were anesthesia cases that got transferred to UNM Hospital.
The VA now tells KOAT that the VA hospital is onboarding two anesthesiologists with three more starting in August. The VA also says there are three others on a contract or fee basis.
Sen. Martin Heinrich called the situation "unacceptable" and said, "I share New Mexicans' concerns about issues at the Albuquerque VA and remain committed to addressing them."
The VA also says the rate at which employees quit working was lower than in FY 2025 than it was in previous years.