Even before the news of pauses and cuts began, veteran Christopher Staten says was having trouble getting treatment. Wednesday, around noon, he was one of just a handful of people standing outside the gates of the VA off Leestown Road, holding a protest sign as cars whizzed by.
"It's hard for people to find time to come out for a few hours, and, we've been doing it for a while now, so people are a little tired," he said.
For the moment, the car horn honks were coming pretty regularly, but Staton says responses aren't always so friendly.
"It's been a pretty big mix of reactions," he explained. "Middle fingers, of course, and kids throwing up Nazi salutes to try to look cool in front their friends. My grandfather fought in World War II. I'm pretty sure we were against Nazis if history serves my memory."
In late February, VA Secretary Doug Collins visited the facility behind where Stanton is standing. He was pressed on workforce reductions and said many types of VA workers are off limits when it comes to staffing cuts.
"300,000-plus positions have been exempted. We've got more exemptions than most departments have employees," he said. "If they are concerned, talk to their leadership. Will there be some people let go? Yes. We've already had that happen. That's part of this process just like it is happening in private enterprise right now."
Days later, a leaked memo showed the Trump administration plan to cut 80,000 VA employees this year.
Staton said they aren't just numbers on a page, when it comes to those who provide and depend on the services.
"You start taking away the benefits, of them being able to come to a place to get mental health treatment and that kind of stuff," he said. "It's going to lead to people's lives being lost that stood up for this country to begin with."