Alina Habba, counselor to President Donald Trump, on Tuesday fielded a question on budget cuts impacting veterans and their jobs—and her response was not met kindly on social media, as one Democratic U.S. representative called Habba's stance "pathetic."Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.Why It MattersAs Trump has settled into his second term, he has issued sweeping change via executive orders and implemented the Department of Government Efficiency.Trump initially tasked billionaire Elon Musk to lead the task force, which has initiated drastic cuts to personnel and funding for multiple federal departments and even forced the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development.Notably, more than 1,000 staff members from the Department of Veterans Affairs were recently let go.Trump also signed an executive order demanding all federal employees return to in- person work "on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary."What To KnowWhile speaking to reporters ahead of Trump's Tuesday night address to Congress, Habba was asked if the president's administration is mindful of veterans who have been impacted by the cuts and what it could do to potentially help salvage their livelihoods."Well, as you know we care about veterans tremendously. That's something the president has always cared about, anybody in blue, anybody that serves this country. But at the same time, we have taxpayer dollars, we have a fiscal responsibility to use taxpayer dollars to pay people that actually work," Habba said."That doesn't mean that we forget our veterans by any means," she added. "We are going to care for them in the right way, but perhaps they're not fit to have a job at this moment, or not willing to come to work. And we can't, you know, I wouldn't take money from you and pay somebody and say, 'Sorry, you know, they're not going to come to work.' It's just not acceptable."Habba's remarks were condemned on X, formerly Twitter. Democratic Maryland Governor Wes Moore posted: "Our veterans risked everything for America—now they come home to be told by those who've given nothing for this country that they're 'not fit.' They're more than fit to serve."Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware also chimed in on X, adding, "My guest at tonight's address is a marine combat veteran from Seaford who was removed without cause from the @USDA last month. The Trump administration should say to his face why they don't think he's 'fit to have a job,' or they should apologize for this disgusting comment."California Representative Mike Levin, a Democrat, called out Habba, saying her remark was "pathetic.""Veterans risked everything for this country. You think they deserve to be fired? That's not patriotism — that's pathetic," Levin said on X.What Other People Are SayingClaire McCaskill, former Democratic senator and MSNBC political analyst, on X: "Say what?? How dare they say this stuff about veterans with NO facts to back it up."Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq War veteran, writer and founder of nonpartisan group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, posted to X: "Alina Habba is not fit to have a job at this moment. Especially this job. What a disgrace. Nobody is off limits for this White House. Remember, if this is how they treat us vets, think about how they're gonna treat everyone else. Think about how they're gonna treat YOU."Journalist and veteran Jim LaPorta, on X: "'Perhaps they're not fit to have a job at this moment or are unwilling to come to work,' is an extraordinary claim and would like to know how this conclusion was reached? Or was it merely because they fell into the probationary period?"Conservative commentator Brigitte Gabriel on X, responding to Habba's remarks earlier in the day about Democrats bringing fired employees to Trump's address: "'We heard they will bring people who lost their jobs? Yeah, you get fired. You get fired when you don't show up to work or when you are taking taxpayer dollars and not working for the federal government and double dipping.' Alina Habba is speaking the TRUTH!"What Happens NextTrump will address Congress around 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, marking his second term's most prominent event on stage since the inauguration of January 20.