VA lifts hiring freeze for 100 more roles, including Veterans Crisis Line support jobs

For many of veterans and their families, the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) provides a much-needed lifeline of support for those in need of support during an emotional or mental health crisis. It also provides resources and a network of support for veterans and their families while connecting with a live person on the other end of the phone.

President Donald Trump issued a hiring freeze to many government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), originally implemented on January 20, 2025, that prohibits filling vacant federal civilian positions or creating new ones, with minor exceptions.

Now, the VA is lifting a hiring freeze on more than 100 positions across the Veteran Health Administration, exempting more health care-related positions from a government-wide hiring freeze, including several support positions at the VCL.

While employees in these positions do not specifically respond to calls from veterans in crisis, adequate staffing in these positions is critical to keep the hotline running smoothly.

The department can now hire VCL “silent monitors,” or quality assurance staff who provide feedback and coaching to hotline responders. The Veterans Crisis Line can also resume hiring social science assistants (SSAs), who call 911 on behalf of hotline responders.

VA Press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz said that “this expanded list of hiring freeze exemptions is proof we’re on track, as is the growing list of VA successes over the last few months.”

The VCL handles an estimated 60,000 calls a month. Alexander estimated that a crisis responder will take anywhere from five to 10 calls a shift. In some cases, VCL responders can be on the phone with a veteran in crisis for hours. Those crises include veterans feeling suicidal, having PTSD symptoms or anxiety, or experiencing homelessness and seeking VA resources.

The VA gave Veterans Crisis Line employees a full exemption from its return-to-office mandate in March. Many VCL employees work remotely, and discovered that nearby VA facilities didn’t have space to accommodate them.

Prior to the return-to-office exemption, VA rescinded, but later reinstated, final job offers for dozens of VCL hires, after officials couldn’t find office space for them to work out of.

The VA is also unfreezing hiring for positions in member services —jobs that deal with pharmacy requests, such as refilling prescriptions, billing, and handling enrollment and eligibility for VA services — and customer service for the VA’s Office of Integrated Veteran Care.

The department’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans can also resume hiring for social services representatives.

The Trump administration ordered a 90-day government-wide hiring freeze in January, but extended the freeze through July 15. Even once the hiring freeze lifts, the White House said it will limit agency hiring — allowing one new hire for every four employees who leave government.

The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 to veterans and their loved ones, and you don’t need to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to connect. To access, dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255 to chat with someone live.