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VA Secretary Doug Collins Confronts Reporter Over "Rumor"-Based Article, Sparks Controversy

Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins has ignited a heated debate over journalistic integrity and the potential impact of reporting on unconfirmed information after publicly confronting a Military.com reporter about an article he deemed to be based on "rumors and innuendo." The confrontation, captured in a video clip that quickly went viral on social media, has raised questions about the responsibility of journalists when reporting on sensitive topics related to veterans’ affairs and government efficiency initiatives.

In the now-viral clip, posted to Secretary Collins’ X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Collins directly addressed Military.com reporter Patricia Kime regarding her February 5 article titled, "Elon Musk Aide Is Now Working at VA and Accessing Its Computer Systems." Collins, visibly displeased, presented a printed copy of Kime’s report and accused her of attempting to "scare" veterans by disseminating unconfirmed rumors about the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) activities within the VA.

"All I seem to be doing lately is fighting back against innuendo and rumor stories… In fact, Patricia, part of it is with you," Collins stated, handing the document to Kime. "I just need your help because when you start headlines with ‘There’s a rumor going around’ and that ‘we’ve heard that,’ that hurts my veterans, that scares my veterans. That scares my employees. Because it’s not true," Collins emphasized. He then directly challenged the reporter, asking, "Will you commit to not doing that in the future?"

Collins further argued that Kime should have sought clarification from a DOGE liaison regarding the rumors before publishing them. Kime responded that she had indeed contacted the VA for comment.

The crux of the controversy stemmed from the Military.com report’s citation of "rumors" suggesting that DOGE employees had visited the VA with the intention of "mining data on disability compensation and benefits." While the report included a statement from a VA spokesperson confirming that a single DOGE employee would be tasked with identifying waste and improving efficiency, the spokesperson explicitly denied that this individual would have access to veterans’ or beneficiaries’ data.

Secretary Collins also took issue with Kime’s inclusion of a press release from Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), in which the senator claimed that DOGE "may have barged into the VA" that day. Collins characterized this as "unconfirmed hearsay" and suggested that Kime should have labeled it as an "unconfirmed report."

"So, Patricia, I want to work together with you, but I need you to commit to me that you’re not gonna do this," Collins reiterated. "That’s fair. I’m working on it," Kime responded, attempting to ask a follow-up question. However, Collins pressed her for a direct answer to his question, stating, "No, I want to hear the answer first. Are you committing not to do rumors? Because you’re scaring my VA employees about this and you’re scaring my veterans."

Kime defended her reporting, stating, "I take issue with parsing out my stuff, but that’s fine." Collins continued to engage with Kime about her headline and the details within her report before asserting his desire for a collaborative relationship moving forward. "I want to work with you a lot as we go forward. We’re going to have a lot of time together. But I’m not gonna have any reporter scaring my employees and scaring the veterans. And that’s what this is doing. Let’s get it right."

Collins concluded by stating, "I’m the most transparent VA secretary we’ve had yet. I’m on video, I’m on interviews, I do everything I possibly can to push back against everything I’m hearing. So, we got a team that will help you, but I need your commitment to help me, too."

The video clip of the exchange rapidly gained traction on social media, amassing over one million views on Collins’ X account within 24 hours. The incident has sparked widespread debate among journalists, veterans’ advocates, and the public alike, with many weighing in on the ethical considerations of reporting on unsubstantiated rumors and the potential for such reporting to create unnecessary anxiety among veterans and VA employees.

Zachary Fryer-Biggs, managing editor for Military.com, issued a strong defense of Kime’s reporting in a post on X, shared with Fox News Digital. "Mr. Secretary – You willfully misrepresented what was in that story, one where your own press office confirmed the details, and was quoted. Patricia is not going to be distracted by this nonsense, she’s going to continue doing the important reporting she’s done for years," Fryer-Biggs wrote.

A VA official, when reached for comment by Fox News Digital, stated, "Without even citing a source, Patricia Kime reported on ‘rumors’ that DOGE representatives would access VA disability compensation and benefits information."

Secretary Collins has defended DOGE’s involvement at the VA as part of the new administration’s broader efforts to reform the department and improve services for veterans. He has emphasized the importance of identifying and eliminating inefficiencies to ensure that resources are directed towards the programs and services that directly benefit veterans.

In a press release issued last month, the VA announced the dismissal of over 1,000 employees, stating that this would enable the department to redirect over $98 million per year in resources back to healthcare, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries. This move, however, has also drawn scrutiny, with some critics expressing concerns about the potential impact on the quality of care and services provided to veterans.

The confrontation between Secretary Collins and Patricia Kime underscores the complex relationship between government officials and the press, particularly when dealing with sensitive issues related to national security, veterans’ affairs, and government efficiency initiatives. It also highlights the ongoing debate about the role of journalism in the age of social media, where unverified information can spread rapidly and have significant consequences.