Emily Erroa, an Army veteran who was fired from the Department of Energy last month, called Habba's comments "ridiculous" and "insulting."

"We are going to care for them in the right way," Habba said. "But perhaps they’re not fit to have a job at this moment or not willing to come to work.”

Counselor to the president Alina Habba said some veterans pushed out of their federal jobs may not want to come into work.