Trump taps retired Air Force Colonel, Iraq veteran to lead department overseeing and facilitating benefits earned by our nation’s heroes
ARLINGTON, Va. – Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Strategic Director John Byrnes issued the following statement following news President Trump named Doug Collins as his pick for Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA):
“Congratulations to fellow veteran Doug Collins on his nomination.
In 2018, President Trump signed the VA MISSION Act into law, expanding options for veterans to get care from community health care providers when the VA isn’t able to meet their needs. Unfortunately, over the last three and a half years, the Biden administration’s VA, under Secretary Denis McDonough, has been working overtime to undermine the spirit of the MISSION Act and keep veterans from accessing the care they’ve earned.
Veterans are often stuck with multi-month wait times, asked to drive hundreds of miles out of state to other VA facilities, or denied urgent mental health care. The current VA continuously acts as a barrier to veterans rather than a solution. Veterans deserve an honest and transparent VA and full health care choice.
Doug Collins has been vocal about fixing the broken VA health care system and ensuring veterans’ access to choice. 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.”