Hampton VA Staffing Crisis: 733 Positions Cut, 62-Day Waits

VA Norfolk Staffing Report: What Veterans Need to Know

The VA Norfolk staffing report refers to a series of Office of Inspector General (OIG) inspections and congressional investigations documenting severe staffing shortages at the Hampton VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake, Virginia. These facilities serve approximately 69,000 veterans in the Hampton Roads region. The reports found that primary care teams operate at 110% capacity, 733 vacant positions were eliminated at Hampton VAMC, and the new Chesapeake clinic remains only 62% staffed.

What Is the VA Norfolk Staffing Report?

The VA Norfolk staffing report is not a single document. It is a collection of oversight findings from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG), congressional testimony, and facility inspections that document a deepening staffing crisis at the Hampton VA Medical Center and its affiliated clinics across the Hampton Roads region.

The Hampton VA Medical Center is the only full-service VA hospital in Hampton Roads. It provides care to approximately 69,000 veterans in a region with one of the highest concentrations of military personnel in the United States. The facility operates alongside the North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake, which opened in April 2025 with the goal of serving more than 28,000 veterans in South Hampton Roads.

The staffing report findings matter because they directly affect how quickly veterans can see a doctor, how long they wait for appointments, and whether specialized services are available locally. When staffing falls below required levels, veterans face longer wait times, delayed diagnoses, and in the most serious cases, compromised patient safety.

Which VA Facilities Are Covered?

The staffing report covers several facilities within the VA Hampton Health Care System:

• Hampton VA Medical Center — The primary hospital facility in Hampton, Virginia

• North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic — Located in Chesapeake, opened April 2025

• Elizabeth City Community Based Outpatient Clinic — In rural northern North Carolina

• Various community-based outpatient clinics across the Hampton Roads region

The Hampton VA Health Care System is one of the oldest and fastest-growing VA healthcare systems in the nation. The Portsmouth-Norfolk-Hampton Roads region has the most densely populated military population in the country, creating consistently high demand for VA services.

What Did the OIG Find at Hampton VAMC?

The OIG found that primary care teams at Hampton VAMC are operating at 110% of capacity, meaning providers are assigned more patients than the facility’s own standards allow. This directly affects appointment availability and continuity of care for veterans.

A March 2025 facility inspection report from the VA Office of Inspector General documented that of Hampton VAMC’s 55 primary care teams, seven had vacant positions, including several nurses and a provider. Primary care demand at the center increased by 7% between fiscal year 2021 and 2023, but the facility has struggled to recruit and retain the staff needed to meet that demand.

The OIG also found that severe occupational staffing shortages were reported for:

• 14 clinical medical officer positions (physicians and specialists)

• 21 nursing positions

• 4 nonclinical positions

A 2024 OIG healthcare facility inspection of the VA Hampton Healthcare System, conducted from August 19 through 21, 2024, highlighted concerns with the facility’s staffing, environment of care, and patient safety processes.

What Patient Safety Issues Were Identified?

The OIG uncovered specific patient safety failures linked to staffing shortages. In one documented case at a Norfolk healthcare facility operated under the VA system, a registered nurse abandoned her shift on a specialized tracheostomy unit because she was the only RN on duty and had no experience with tracheostomy patients. The nurse called her supervisor and the Director of Nursing, both of whom refused to come to the facility. A patient dependent on round-the-clock specialized care was found dead with no registered nurse present on the unit.

Federal regulations require registered nurse coverage on specialized tracheostomy units because patients with breathing tubes face life-threatening complications that only RNs are trained to handle. The OIG classified this violation as “immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety,” the most serious level of deficiency that can trigger facility closure.

Additionally, OIG reports from 2022 through 2024 substantiated a range of concerning allegations related to clinical care at Hampton VAMC. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, stated that the facility “continues to be plagued by significant patient care and safety issues, an ever-growing pile of OIG reports, and an executive leadership that fails to meet the needs of the veterans and their families it serves.”

How Many Positions Were Cut at Hampton VAMC?

Between November 2025 and January 2026, the VA eliminated 733 vacant positions at the Hampton VA Medical Center — more than at any other VA hospital in the country. The cuts included 61 physician roles, 158 nurse roles, and 95 mental health positions.

The VA characterized these as “unfilled” roles, but federal data reviewed by The Virginian-Pilot revealed that 477 of the 733 positions — more than half — were occupied in 2025 or 2026. An additional 173 positions had been vacant for fewer than five months when they were eliminated.

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) told the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee that 18,000 of the positions eliminated nationwide had been filled in 2025 or 2026, directly contradicting the VA’s explanation that these were old vacancies from the COVID-19 era.

Stacy Shorter, president of AFGE Local 2328, which represents workers at Hampton VAMC, said: “I’m horrified by the positions they removed off the org chart. I can’t believe the audacity to do that at a hospital that has one of the fastest growing veteran populations in the country, and at a hospital that’s already understaffed before you did that.”

Statewide Impact in Virginia

The staffing cuts affected VA facilities across Virginia. Between fall 2025 and January 2026, more than 1,700 vacant positions were eliminated statewide:

More than half of the eliminated positions in Virginia were direct patient care roles, including doctors, nurses, specialists, therapists, and pharmacists.

Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia wrote to VA Secretary Doug Collins: “These positions span the entire workforce, including social workers, technicians, chaplains, and security personnel. More concerning, based on our data review, more than half of the eliminated vacancies in Virginia appear to be direct patient-facing clinical positions.”

What Is the Status of the North Battlefield VA Clinic?

The North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake is operating at only 62% of its planned staffing level, despite the VA’s original goal of reaching full staffing by January 2026.

The clinic opened in April 2025 with approximately 150 staff members. By June 2025, it employed 185 people and was actively recruiting for 243 additional positions as part of its phased growth plan. As of that time, the clinic had 6,810 enrolled veterans and had completed 4,000 patient visits in its first six weeks.

However, as of February 2026, the clinic had only filled 335 of 534 positions — approximately 62% of its planned workforce. The staffing gaps have left critical services unavailable: the dental unit and X-ray department remain idle even though equipment is in place.

Rep. Jen Kiggans raised these concerns directly with VA Secretary Doug Collins during a February 2026 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing, questioning why the VA failed to meet its own staffing deadline.

How Does Understaffing Affect Veteran Care?

Understaffing directly impacts the speed and quality of care veterans receive at Hampton VAMC and its affiliated clinics.

It currently takes 62 days for a new patient to see a primary care physician at Hampton VAMC, according to Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Newport News), whose district includes the facility.

Nationally, the VA’s Office of Inspector General found that severe staffing shortages increased by 50% from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. The surveys, taken at 139 Veterans Health Administration facilities, revealed:

• 94% of facilities reported shortages for medical officer occupations, including doctors and psychiatrists

• 79% of facilities reported shortages for nurses

Jacqueline Simon, policy director for the American Federation of Government Employees, warned: “This is a deliberate effort to incapacitate and to undermine veterans’ support for and approval of the care they receive in VA hospitals and clinics. They’ll have to wait much longer for appointments. There won’t be specialists available. They’ll have no choice but to go to the private sector.”

What This Means for Your Care

When staffing shortages occur, veterans may experience:

• Longer wait times for primary care and specialty appointments

• Delayed diagnoses when test results are not followed up promptly

• Limited availability of mental health services

• Cancelled or rescheduled appointments due to provider shortages

• Travel to other VA facilities for services not available locally

The OIG report specifically noted that “the shortages were most pronounced in hard-to-recruit locations such as the Elizabeth City Community Based Outpatient Clinic in a very rural part of northern North Carolina, as well as in high-demand specialties including mental health, medical-surgical/telemetry, and the emergency department.”

What Is the Leadership Situation at Hampton VAMC?

Since July 2024, the Hampton VA Medical Center has operated without stable leadership, which has undermined the efficiency and quality of care patients receive, according to congressional findings.

Rep. Kiggans stated in a letter to VA Secretary Collins: “Since July 2024, the Hampton VAMC has been without stable leadership, which has negatively impacted veterans in my district who rely on Hampton for their care. Further, I find it disturbing that, instead of adequately disciplining personnel, VA appears to reassign them to other facilities or the VISN level.”

The facility has experienced frequent turnover of leadership personnel since 2024. This leadership instability has coincided with multiple OIG reports documenting clinical care failures, including:

• Care failures for a patient with alcohol withdrawal

• Delay in diagnosis and treatment for a patient with a new lung mass

• Multiple failures in test results follow-up for a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer

• Issues with quality of patient care and communication

Kiggans emphasized: “I trust you would agree with me that we must have a dedicated, qualified professional at Hampton’s helm to ensure that our veterans in Hampton Roads are served with the best care and level of service they have earned.”

What Is the USPHS Partnership?

The Hampton VA Health Care System has partnered with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to fill critical staffing gaps in clinical areas. This partnership, established through a 2017 Memorandum of Agreement between the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services, allows USPHS officers to be deployed to VA facilities.

The USPHS Commissioned Corps is one of the United States’ eight uniformed services. It comprises just over 5,300 active-duty public health professionals, including physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other clinical specialists.

The partnership has helped Hampton VA fill staffing gaps in several critical clinical areas, particularly in mental health, medical-surgical/telemetry, and the emergency department. USPHS officers can integrate quickly into operations without the lengthy onboarding timetables often necessary when hiring from the community.

However, the USPHS partnership is a supplemental solution. It does not replace the need for permanent, stable staffing at Hampton VAMC and its affiliated clinics.

What Veterans Should Do Next

If you receive care at Hampton VAMC, North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic, or any other VA facility in the Hampton Roads region, here are steps you can take:

1. Enroll in VA healthcare if you haven’t already. Apply online at VA.gov or call 1-877-222-8387. You will need VA Form 10-10EZ. Enrollment typically takes 1-2 weeks.

2. Check your appointment wait times. Log into My HealtheVet or the VA Health app to view upcoming appointments. If you experience delays, contact your patient advocate.

3. Ask about community care options. If VA cannot provide care within designated access standards, you may qualify for care in the community through the Veterans Community Care Program. Ask your VA provider or patient advocate for a referral.

4. Document your experience. If you experience unusual delays, cancelled appointments, or quality-of-care concerns, report them to your facility’s patient advocate and consider filing a complaint with the VA OIG Hotline at 1-800-488-8244.

5. Contact your congressional representatives. Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have been actively engaged in oversight of Hampton VAMC staffing. Sharing your experience can help inform their advocacy.

6. Explore mental health resources. If you are struggling with mental health concerns, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.

Common Questions

What is the VA Norfolk staffing report?

The VA Norfolk staffing report refers to a collection of OIG inspections, congressional testimony, and facility audits documenting severe staffing shortages at Hampton VA Medical Center and North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake. The reports found primary care teams at 110% capacity, 733 positions cut at Hampton VAMC, and the Chesapeake clinic operating at only 62% staffing.

How many positions were cut at Hampton VA Medical Center?

The VA eliminated 733 vacant positions at Hampton VAMC between November 2025 and January 2026 — more than at any other VA hospital in the country. The cuts included 61 physician roles, 158 nurse roles, and 95 mental health positions. More than half of the eliminated positions had been filled in 2025 or 2026.

Is the North Battlefield VA Clinic fully staffed?

No. As of February 2026, the North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake is operating at approximately 62% of its planned staffing level — 335 of 534 positions filled. The VA originally stated the facility would reach full staffing by January 2026 but failed to meet that deadline.

How long does it take to see a primary care doctor at Hampton VAMC?

It currently takes 62 days for a new patient to see a primary care physician at Hampton VA Medical Center, according to congressional testimony. Primary care teams at the facility are operating at 110% of capacity, meaning providers are assigned more patients than the facility’s own standards allow.

What should I do if I can’t get a timely appointment at Hampton VAMC?

If you cannot get an appointment within VA’s access standards, ask about the Veterans Community Care Program. You may qualify for care from a community provider at VA’s expense. Contact your patient advocate or call 1-877-222-8387 for assistance.

Has leadership at Hampton VAMC been stable?

No. Hampton VAMC has operated without stable leadership since July 2024. Rep. Jen Kiggans has called for permanent, qualified leadership at the facility, noting that frequent turnover has undermined the efficiency and quality of care veterans receive.

What did the OIG find at Hampton VAMC?

The OIG found primary care teams at 110% capacity, seven vacant positions among 55 primary care teams, and severe shortages for 14 medical officer positions and 21 nursing positions. Multiple OIG reports from 2022-2024 substantiated concerns about clinical care, patient safety, and quality management.

Is the VA Norfolk staffing report the same as the OIG report?

The term “VA Norfolk staffing report” is a general reference to the body of oversight findings about staffing at Hampton VAMC and affiliated Norfolk-area facilities. It includes OIG healthcare facility inspection reports, congressional testimony, and data analyses from the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

What is the USPHS partnership at Hampton VA?

The Hampton VA Health Care System has partnered with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) to fill critical staffing gaps. USPHS officers — including physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals — are deployed to Hampton VA to provide clinical care in hard-to-recruit specialties.

How can I report a patient safety concern at a VA facility?

Contact your facility’s patient advocate directly. You can also file a complaint with the VA OIG Hotline at 1-800-488-8244 or online at vaoig.gov. For immediate safety concerns, speak with a nurse manager or the facility director’s office.

Does the staffing shortage affect mental health care at Hampton VAMC?

Yes. The 733 eliminated positions at Hampton VAMC included 95 mental health roles. The OIG identified mental health as one of the most pronounced shortage areas at Hampton VAMC, along with medical-surgical/telemetry and the emergency department.

What is the Veterans Community Care Program?

The Veterans Community Care Program allows veterans to receive care from community providers at VA’s expense when VA cannot provide the needed care within designated access standards or when the veteran meets certain eligibility criteria. Ask your VA provider or patient advocate for a referral.

Key Takeaways

• The VA Norfolk staffing report documents severe shortages at Hampton VAMC and North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic, serving approximately 69,000 veterans in Hampton Roads.

• Primary care teams at Hampton VAMC operate at 110% capacity, with 62-day waits for new primary care patients.

• The VA eliminated 733 vacant positions at Hampton VAMC — the most of any VA hospital in the country — including 61 physicians, 158 nurses, and 95 mental health roles.

• The North Battlefield VA Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake remains only 62% staffed, leaving dental and X-ray services idle.

• Hampton VAMC has operated without stable leadership since July 2024, contributing to persistent patient safety and quality-of-care concerns.

• National OIG surveys found a 50% increase in severe staffing shortages from FY2024 to FY2025, with 94% of facilities reporting doctor shortages.

• Veterans experiencing appointment delays should ask about community care options and contact their patient advocate.

• The USPHS partnership provides supplemental clinical staffing but does not replace the need for permanent, stable staffing.

• Virginia Sens. Warner and Kaine have demanded accountability from VA leadership, noting that more than half of eliminated positions in Virginia were direct patient care roles.

• Veterans can report concerns to the VA OIG Hotline at 1-800-488-8244.

Official Resources

• VA.gov — Apply for healthcare, check benefits, and access My HealtheVet

• VA OIG — Report suspected wrongdoing at vaoig.gov or call 1-800-488-8244

• Veterans Crisis Line — Dial 988, then press 1; or text 838255

• Hampton VA Medical Center — va.gov/hampton-health-care

• Veterans Community Care Program — va.gov/communitycare

• VA Form 10-10EZ — Application for Health Benefits

• Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee — veterans.senate.gov

• House Veterans’ Affairs Committee — veterans.house.gov

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