Statement from Concerned Veterans for America on Doug Collins’s Confirmation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

By Concerned Veterans for America

ARLINGTON, Va. – Concerned Veterans for America released the following statement after Doug Collins was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

“The confirmation of Doug Collins as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs presents a real opportunity to fix the broken VA health care system and ensure bureaucratic accountability and veterans’ access to full choice.  

CVA looks forward to working with Secretary Collins and the Trump administration to drive meaningful reform at the Department of Veterans Affairs through: 

  • A commitment to providing veterans maximum agency in their care, ensuring all programs are effective at creating best outcomes for patients.  
  • A new attitude toward innovation to reduce health care costs while improving quality of service for veterans.  
  • A clear commitment that spending is aligned with the organization’s core mission, including an external audit of the VA.  
  • Robust review of VA assets, facilities and personnel to ensure they are making good use of taxpayer dollars. 

“Doug Collins has been vocal about fixing the broken VA health care system and ensuring veterans’ access to choice. He will be uniquely positioned to reform the VA bureaucracy and follow the intent of Congress rather than ignoring the law and acting on institutional interest alone. We look forward to working with the Trump administration’s next Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hold the VA accountable to meet the needs of our nation’s heroes so that no veteran is left behind waiting for care.”


Background

In 2018, President Trump signed the groundbreaking VA MISSION Act into law, expanding options for veterans to receive care from community providers if the VA cannot meet their needs. Concerned Veterans for America was proud to support the law alongside many veterans’ organizations. 

Unfortunately, the VA under President Biden and VA Secretary Denis McDonough worked overtime to undermine the spirit of the MISSION Act and prevent veterans from accessing the care they’ve earned. Some veterans still wait months for appointments, while others are asked to drive hundreds of miles to another VA facility. Sadly, some are even denied urgent mental health care.