Blumenthal Statement on Vote to Confirm Doug Collins as VA Secretary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement on his vote to confirm Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

“Dangerous and unlawful actions from the Trump Administration in its first 14 days have blatantly endangered VA’s ability to deliver for veterans and their families. A hiring freeze on VA, firing the VA’s top independent watchdog, and undermining critical programs of care and benefits for veterans. Veterans and VA need a leader who puts veterans at the forefront, particularly in the face of pressure to scale back, cut costs, and pursue harmful policies. Doug Collins has committed to me he will be this forceful advocate.

“Having a permanent leader in this role helps ensure we can hold VA accountable to deliver on its sacred obligation to provide the best health care and benefits for every veteran VA serves. As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I plan to hold Collins accountable to his promise to continue bipartisan forward progress. Among these priorities are seeking expansion of the PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans, upgrading the VA facilities nationwide, delivering more resources to prevent veteran homelessness, and utilizing every resource possible to stop veteran suicide. We must do more for veterans to earn their trust – not go backwards and breach that trust.”

At his nomination hearing, Blumenthal pressed Collins to push back against any harmful policies that would negatively impact the delivery of veterans’ health care and benefits, including a hiring freeze issued by President Donald Trump at VA. This hiring freeze impacts positions already facing shortages, including those that deliver veterans’ health care and benefits, and that work at VA cemeteries. Days later and after many doctors and medical personnel nationwide had their job offers rescinded, the Trump Administration exempted certain VA health care employees. However, this exemption still excludes a number of critical positions at VA – including all positions at the Veterans Benefits Administration who continue to process historically high numbers of claims for benefits thanks to the PACT Act, employees at the National Cemetery Administration working to memorialize our veterans, and critical hospital support staff.

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