ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Presses Vought on Dangerous Proposals to Means-Test Veterans' Disability Benefits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing this week on the nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) raised serious concerns about Vought’s previous proposals to begin means-testing veterans’ disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Similar harmful proposals that would negatively impact veterans have also been included as part of Project 2025 – of which Vought was a leading contributor and organizer.

“I’m the Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I’m concerned by your proposal that there should be a means-test for who deserves [Department of] Veterans Affairs disability compensation,” said Blumenthal. “For me, nothing is more important than caring for our veterans. I think that is true for many of us on both sides of the aisle. Do you believe that veterans should receive disability benefits only if they qualify under some kinds of means-test?”

Vought authored a 2023 Budget Proposal which proposed reducing VA spending by means-testing veterans’ disability compensation and narrowing certain veterans’ eligibility for disability compensation. This would withhold earned benefits from veterans whose household income is above an arbitrary threshold, and eliminate disability compensation for veterans rated below a certain disability percentage—negatively impacting veterans who rely on VA disability compensation benefits.

While Vought sidestepped answering the Senator’s question, Blumenthal emphasized that Vought in the past has taken the position there should be a means-test in his budget proposal as President of the Center for Renewing America: “You’re not going to answer that question. But you have in the past taken the position that there should be a means test.”

The Senator also pressed Vought on his proposal to cut disability compensation for veterans below a certain disability rating: “Do you believe that disability compensation benefits for veterans should be eliminated if any veteran has a disability rating below 30%?...That is the proposal from the Center for Renewing America – the organization that you founded. Do you continue to believe it?”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Blumenthal is a staunch defender of protecting and expanding benefits and health care veterans earned and deserve—including their disability compensation provided under the PACT Act. Blumenthal championed key provisions of the PACT Act to expand benefits, health care, and compensation to toxic-exposed veterans previously unable to access its services and helped get it passed into law in 2022.

The full text of Blumenthal’s exchange with Vought about veterans’ disability compensation is copied below. Video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available for download here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): I’m the Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I’m concerned by your proposal that there should be a means-test for who deserves [Department of] Veterans Affairs disability compensation. For me, nothing is more important than caring for our veterans. I think that is true for many of us on both sides of the aisle. Do you believe that veterans should receive disability benefits only if they qualify under some kinds of means-test?

Russell Vought: Senator, the President has been a firm supporter of veterans spending – of getting everything veterans need. That was always reflected in all the budgets the President sent to the Hill—

Blumenthal: I’m going to interrupt you, with apology, because my time is running out. Do you believe there should be a means test for disability benefits going to veterans?

Vought: Again, I’m not going to speak to any of the policy—

Blumenthal: You’re not going to answer that question. But you have in the past taken the position that there should be a means-test.

Vought: The President has always fully supported veteran spending and put forward everything that they need, that the Department of VA does, and I fully expect that to continue.

Blumenthal: Do you believe that disability compensation benefits for veterans should be eliminated if any veteran has a disability rating below 30%?

Vought: Senator I’m not here on behalf of what I think, but I’m here on behalf of the President—

Blumenthal: That is the proposal from the Center for Renewing America – the organization that you founded. Do you continue to believe it?

Vought: It is the think tank I am currently the President of. It is not the agenda of the incoming President of the United States. And so, I’m here on behalf of being his nominee and doing his budgets.

Blumenthal: Is that what he believes?

Vought: Again, you should judge him by the budgets he sends forth to Congress. I am here on behalf of the fiscal responsibility he wants to restore, and I fully intend to do that if confirmed.

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