VA Pauses Secretary Collins' Reckless Cancellation of Critical Contracts Delivering Direct Services to Veterans, Following Blumenthal's Concerns

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today paused its cancellation of up to 875 contracts that provide critical services to veterans and their families following concerns cited from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) last night. In response, Blumenthal released the following statement:

“This apparent reversal— only temporary—shows the VA in turmoil. Collins and Trump issue broad directives that lay waste to services, not eliminate waste that belie their promises and belie their false reassurances. It’s government by whiplash. Cancel and fire first, analyze later. I showed in our VA Committee hearing this morning how the VA’s own spreadsheet demonstrates the reprehensible harm caused by these contract cancellations. These policies are walked back only after veterans, Congress, and the media highlight their harmful impacts. Collins can continue releasing videos applauding his decisions and claiming his actions will not harm veterans and their families. But veterans deserve more than empty promises – they deserve the truth and they deserve leadership that always puts them first.”

At a joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees hearing today with The American Legion and other leading Veterans Service Organizations, Blumenthal (D-CT) swung back at Collins’ claims that these contracts would not impact veterans: “Just last night, the Secretary of the VA announced cancellation of 875 contracts worth $2 billion. He began his message, ‘I got some big news for you.’ And then he had a happy-talk video which assured us, no problem, nothing to see here, they’re all just consulting contracts. In fact, I have a spreadsheet…of those 875 contracts that provide direct service to veterans for cancer care, for recruiting of doctors, for decontamination of facilities that are polluted. This list was provided to my office by officials within the VA…It is a description of some of those contracts and input from VA officials on why they are needed to help serve veterans and taxpayers. And I'm asking the Secretary to provide us with a clean copy, a full copy, full disclosure and transparency.”

Blumenthal entered the list of cancelled contracts - which included notes signaling VA has already reviewed these contracts and VA officials’ concerns with cancelling them - into the Committee record.

The text of Blumenthal’s hearing remarks is copied below and a video link is available here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Service in the VSOs and advocacy for veterans is a bipartisan task. Let me just stress, it always has been, and it must continue to be. I am proud to serve with Senator Moran and to introduce with him just recently the National Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, which would expand the GI bill’s eligibility to Guard and Reserve members. Every day in uniform ought to count for those kinds of well-earned benefits. And with Senator Boozman, the Caring for Survivors Act, which would increase the dependency and indemnity compensation payments to surviving spouses. We have to continue that bipartisan tradition.

And I want to thank the Veteran Service Organizations for blowing the whistle on what is happening these days. Literally every day. You heard some of them from Representative Takano. As I quoted yesterday from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Commander Lipphardt, who said the Administration is engaged in indiscriminate firings, I’m quoting him, “of veterans in the government workforce. I am also calling on VFW members to march forth and join me on March 4” – when he will be testifying, and I'm quoting him, “I want to see hats in the hallways of our Capitol as our legislative committee members engage with lawmakers in demanding that they ‘Honor the Contract’ the government made with those who have already served and sacrificed so much for America and their fellow Americans. It is time to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.” That is on us, all of us, to be there for our veterans, to be their voice and face, in protesting the 2,400 firings that have already occurred at the VA. Across the government, 6,000 veterans have been fired from their jobs in government agencies.

Just last night, the Secretary of the VA announced cancellation of 875 contracts worth $2 billion. He began his message, "I got some big news for you." And then he had a happy-talk video which assured us, no problem, nothing to see here, they’re all just consulting contracts. In fact, I have a spreadsheet. I am going to ask, if there is no objection, Mr. Chairman, that it be made a part of our record.

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL): Without objection.

Blumenthal: This is a partial list, partial list, of those 875 contracts that provide direct service to veterans for cancer care, for recruiting of doctors, for decontamination of facilities that are polluted. This list was provided to my office by officials within the VA. It doesn't contain procurement sensitive information. It is a description of some of those contracts and input from VA officials on why they are needed to help serve veterans and taxpayers. And I'm asking the Secretary to provide us with a clean copy, a full copy, full disclosure and transparency. And I will ask that it be made part of the record when it is furnished.

Bost: Without objection.

Blumenthal: I have asked a bunch of questions, Representative Takano has. I have yet to receive answers.

Let me conclude by saying, and I am going to quote the VA Secretary in his video. "Don't let nameless sources, even Senators and House Members who want to scare you, and media, who want to perpetuate the lying, we are taking care of the veterans." That is belied by those cuts, by the hiring freezes, by the firings that are occurring in real time, right now. And they are having a real impact in Connecticut, where veterans are coming to me and saying, for example, the Veterans Crisis Line has been impacted. Making a difference in people's lives. Saving veterans from potential suicide.

I want to thank all of you for being here today and providing that kind of face and voice which is so essential in making sure that our veterans are represented, that their interests are protected, and that we stop the bleeding. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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