VA Secretary Collins Defends Department, Accuses Critics of Spreading "Fake News" Regarding Budget and Staffing Cuts
Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins is pushing back against what he describes as a campaign of misinformation regarding the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its potential impact on veterans’ healthcare and benefits. Collins, a current colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, has accused government unions, certain members of Congress, and the media of deliberately spreading false narratives about cuts to VA services.
In an effort to demonstrate his commitment to expanding access to care, Collins has highlighted the opening of four new VA clinics in just the first few months of his tenure. These new facilities, located in Hamilton, Montana; Spotsylvania, Virginia; Aurora, Colorado; and Ridgewood, Queens, New York City, are expected to serve tens of thousands of veterans. The Montana clinic, for example, boasts a significant increase in size compared to its predecessor, while the Spotsylvania facility is anticipated to be the largest of its kind nationwide, capable of accommodating an estimated 35,000 patients annually.
Collins maintains that these actions contradict the narrative of diminished services. He asserts that despite the efforts of DOGE to streamline the bureaucracy and potentially reduce the VA’s workforce, the quality and accessibility of care for veterans will not be compromised. The VA is reportedly aiming to reduce its workforce by approximately 15%, from 471,000 to 398,000 employees, through DOGE initiatives.
The Secretary directly addressed concerns raised by Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, who warned that such cuts would negatively impact service to veterans. Collins responded by citing the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which has consistently identified the VA as being at "high risk" for waste, fraud, abuse, and insufficient care. He suggested that all stakeholders should acknowledge these long-standing issues and work towards finding solutions.
In an interview, Collins stated, "I’ve been here four weeks, but it’s interesting that there’s no solutions being proposed. President Trump brought generational change to DC. And he’s saying let’s look at everything. So what we’re looking at is, if our system is on a high-risk list, if we’ve had issues and all that the government has decided to do lately has put money or people at something, then maybe we need to ask the better question – are we using our resources wisely and making sure that our department is taking care of the veteran, which is our only responsibility?"
Other prominent Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have voiced strong opposition to the proposed cuts. Sanders claimed that the administration is planning to "gut the Department of Veterans Affairs, jeopardizing the health and well-being of millions of veterans." Similarly, Representative Seth Moulton, a Democratic veteran, expressed concerns about worsening waiting lists and other systemic issues within the VA, arguing that staff reductions would exacerbate these problems.
Collins countered these criticisms by emphasizing that the projected staff reductions are part of a "deliberative process" that will involve input from career VA employees and senior executives. He also pointed out that the GAO has had the VA on its high-risk list for a decade, and that Democrats are only now raising concerns about potential reforms. According to Collins, the proportion of layoffs thus far has been minimal, affecting less than 1% of the agency’s workforce and primarily impacting non-frontline personnel.
Furthermore, the VA is reportedly scrutinizing approximately $980 million in contract-related spending with the goal of reinvesting those funds directly into patient care. This initiative is also part of DOGE’s overall effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the VA.
Adding to the controversy, the VA announced a change in policy regarding treatment for gender dysphoria. Effective immediately, the VA will no longer offer cross-sex hormone therapy to veterans with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, unless they are already receiving such care. This decision marks a departure from the previous policy supported by the Biden administration. This has stoked further controversy and is likely to be the latest point of contention between the administration and groups that advocate for veteran rights.
The changes are drawing scrutiny and will continue to be a focal point for discussion as the debate continues. It also showcases the divergence in policy from previous administrations that is not aligned to current social norms. How the policy will affect the quality of care for veterans remains to be seen as the VA Secretary insists there will be no degradation of care.
