Who is Andrew Lennox, the veteran appearing beside Sen. Slotkin during the Democrat rebuttal?

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is set to deliver a powerful rebuttal speech to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night. Accompanying her will be Andrew Lennox, a Marine Corps veteran and former Veterans Affairs employee who was among the many probationary employees whose jobs were abruptly terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in February.

Lennox, a U.S. Marine mortarman veteran with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, started his role at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office in Ann Arbor, Michigan in December 2024. Unfortunately, his job was cut short just two months later by DOGE’s firing of probationary employees across the federal government. Lennox, who has described his time in the Marines as the “greatest job” he’s ever had, was devastated by the sudden loss of his position.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Lennox received an email on Feb. 13 notifying him of his termination, citing his performance as the reason. However, Lennox claims that he never received a performance evaluation during his short tenure at the VA. This revelation led him to realize that the email he received was identical to the ones received by other VA colleagues who were also let go by DOGE.

Lennox was shocked to discover that he was among roughly 1,000 employees who were abruptly fired by DOGE at the VA. The department claimed that these personnel cuts would save over $98 million annually. However, Lennox raised concerns about the lack of proper notification and the potential impact on veterans who rely on VA services.

As Slotkin prepares to deliver her speech, she is expected to address the sharp reductions that DOGE has made to the federal workforce as part of its efforts to trim the federal budget. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., described Slotkin as offering a bold vision of hope, unity, and a brighter future for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

Slotkin’s remarks are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, where she will undoubtedly shed light on the challenges faced by former service members like Lennox who have been affected by the government’s workforce reductions. The story of Andrew Lennox serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans and the importance of ensuring their continued care and support.