WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs, which blocked abortions from its medical benefits package prior to changes made by President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration, is proposing to reinstate that exclusion, The Daily Wire has learned.
Before Biden&#8217;s administration removed an exclusion on abortions and abortion counseling from the Veterans Affairs medical benefits package, that exclusion had been in place since the package was first established in 1999 through the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, a proposed rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs states.
Under the exclusion, abortions, which end the life of unborn babies, were expressly excluded from the package.
Veterans Affairs is also proposing that it reinstate exclusions on abortions and abortion counseling for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), the proposed rule shows — exclusions also removed in 2022.
&#8220;We take this action to ensure that VA provides only needed medical services to our nation’s heroes and their families,&#8221; reads the proposed rule.
<div id="attachment_955837" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reversing-biden-policy-veterans-affairs-seeks-to-block-abortions-from-benefits-package/world-war-ii-army-rangers-gold-medal" rel="attachment wp-att-955837"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-955837" class="wp-image-955837 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2221492560-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2221492560-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2221492560-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2221492560-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2221492560.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images</div>
A Veterans Affairs spokesperson shared in a statement that &#8220;prior to the Biden Administration’s politically motivated change in 2022, federal law and longstanding precedent across Democrat and Republican administrations prevented VA from providing abortions and abortion counseling.&#8221;
 &#8220;VA’s proposed rule will reinstate the pre-Biden bipartisan policy, bringing the department back in line with historical norms,&#8221; the spokesperson noted.
The VA notes that the new policy will not prevent the department from caring for women in life-threatening circumstances — a fear commonly promoted by critical media when discussing abortion policy.
Under the Biden administration, the former president <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/09/09/2022-19239/reproductive-health-services">directed the VA to amend</a> its &#8220;medical regulations to remove the exclusion on abortion counseling and establish exceptions to the exclusion on abortions in the medical benefits package for veterans who receive care set forth in that package, and to remove the exclusion on abortion counseling and expand the exceptions to the exclusion on abortions for Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) beneficiaries.&#8221;
The administration&#8217;s VA Department <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/09/09/2022-19239/reproductive-health-services">said at the time</a>, shortly after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, that the move was necessary to help protect &#8220;the lives and health of veterans.&#8221;
&#8220;As abortion bans come into force across the country, veterans in many States are no longer assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed,&#8221; the Biden era rule said. &#8220;VA has determined that an abortion is &#8216;needed&#8217; pursuant to <a class="usc external" href="https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/38/1710" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">38 U.S.C. 1710</a>, when sought by a veteran, if determined needed by a health care professional, when the life or health of the pregnant veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term or when the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest. Unless VA removes its existing prohibitions on abortion-related care and makes clear that needed abortion-related care is authorized, these veterans will face serious threats to their life and health.&#8221;

President Biden Delivers Remarks On Supreme Court’s Immunity Ruling

Reversing Biden Policy, Veterans Affairs Seeks To Block Abortions From Benefits Package

Abortion

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

Veterans Affairs (VA)

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said that after a weekend of violent riots — during which property was vandalized and police officers and federal agents were targeted by protesters in the streets of Los Angeles — a local VA clinic was forced to close its doors.
Collins issued the statement on Monday afternoon, one day after President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to the California city in an effort to get the riots under control and protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were attempting to enforce federal immigration laws.
The VA secretary shared a photo showing the side of the Los Angeles VA building spray-painted with threats and profanities aimed at federal officials, adding, &#8220;To the violent mobs in Los Angeles rioting in support of illegal immigrants and against the rule of law – Your actions are interfering with Veterans’ health care.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To ensure the safety of Veterans and employees, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptVetAffairs</a> had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close its LA Ambulatory Care Center. The clinic will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and in the meantime, in-person appointments at the facility are being…
— VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1932141182404186216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;To ensure the safety of Veterans and employees, @DeptVetAffairs had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close its LA Ambulatory Care Center. The clinic will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and in the meantime, in-person appointments at the facility are being rescheduled or shifted to telehealth,&#8221; he added.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
In an effort to contain the riots, the Trump administration also deployed a number of U.S. Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton, some of whom were expected to relieve the National Guard troops who had already been in the city for nearly two days. Of the 2,000 National Guard troops who were initially deployed to Los Angeles, only approximately 300 have been actively engaged on the streets.

Senate Nomination Hearing Held For Doug Collins To Be Veterans Affairs Secretary

Veterans Affairs Sec Says ‘Violent Mobs In Los Angeles’ Forced Veterans Clinic To Close

Department of Veterans Affairs

Doug Collins

Health Care

Military

U.S.

Veterans

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins took CNN apart in a lengthy X thread on Monday, ripping into the network over what he said was a fake story that the network ran with despite his repeated assertions that there was no truth to it.
Collins laid out what happened in a series of posts, saying that Brian Todd — a regular correspondent for &#8220;The Situation Room&#8221; — had reached out to him several times for comments on stories that were based on &#8216;false, deliberately leaked &#8216;information,&#8221;&#8221; and had published a story even after he was told that there was no truth to the &#8220;scoop&#8221; he thought he had.
&#8220;True stories about the fake news: @CNN edition,&#8221; Collins began his thread.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
True stories about the fake news: <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> edition. 🧵
&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1906859696360690050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Every few days, a guy named @BrianToddCNN reaches out to us, asking for the department’s response to whatever fake controversy VA’s critics are pushing. I’m not sure what his actual beat is, but his specialty seems to be regurgitating pre-packaged opposition research VA critics prepare for him,&#8221; Collins said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Late last week, Brian struck again, claiming to have a scoop about a proposal to “automate VA call centers.” In reality, no such plans exist. Brian’s scoop was based on false, deliberately leaked “information” from people who aren’t involved in our planning process. In other…
&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1906859701859491850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Late last week, Brian struck again, claiming to have a scoop about a proposal to &#8216;automate VA call centers.&#8217; In reality, no such plans exist. Brian’s scoop was based on false, deliberately leaked &#8216;information&#8217; from people who aren’t involved in our planning process,&#8221; Collins continued. &#8220;In other words, Brian was the target of a disinformation operation designed to generate fake news.&#8221;
Collins went on to say that even though officials at the VA had made it clear to Todd that &#8220;his allegations were not credible,&#8221; their warnings had gone unheeded and CNN ran the story anyway. Efforts to get Todd to connect the VA to his editor were also ignored, but they eventually were able to get through.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
That editor and another CNN senior executive refused to retract the fake story. Instead, they insisted everything would be OK if we just gave them a statement responding to the story’s fake allegations. What happened to the journalistic principle of verifying something is true…
&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1906859709199446022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;That editor and another CNN senior executive refused to retract the fake story. Instead, they insisted everything would be OK if we just gave them a statement responding to the story’s fake allegations,&#8221; Collins added. &#8220;What happened to the journalistic principle of verifying something is true before publication?&#8221;
Collins concluded with a jab at the network over the recent defamation case that cost them millions, saying, &#8220;With standards like these, it’s easy to see why a jury recently found CNN liable for defamation and ordered the network to pay $5 million in damages.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/wolfblitzer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wolfblitzer</a> – Please hold your employee, <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianToddCNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianToddCNN</a>, to a higher standard. Thank you (7/7)
&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1906859713960034562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;@wolfblitzer – Please hold your employee,@BrianToddCNN, to a higher standard. Thank you,&#8221; Collins said.

VA Secretary Dismantles CNN Over Fake Story On ‘Automated Call Centers’

VA Secretary Dismantles CNN Over Fake Story On 'Automated Call Centers'

Media

Politics

Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins made it clear that he was not going to play along when CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins tried to make his Wednesday evening interview all about the Signal chat between Trump officials that inadvertently included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
Secretary Collins attempted to steer the conversation back to the VA and to issues impacting veterans, but the CNN anchor quickly made it obvious that she was not going to let go of the Signal story — so the former Georgia Congressman flipped the interview on its head and questioned her instead.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecVetAffairs</a> torches Fake News CNN&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a>: &quot;Since you undoubtedly don&#39;t want to talk about the VA &#8230; I would like to know why CNN is hostile to veterans — especially one in Florida, where you just had a $5 million defamation suit&#8230;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fwnkeg10Zn">pic.twitter.com/fwnkeg10Zn</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1905077744607637576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Do you believe that a mistake was made here, though, to have this conversation, to add a reporter, and to have it on an unsupported, unclassified group setting?&#8221; the anchor asked.
&#8220;Kaitlan, as I&#8217;ve just told you, I just answered the question,&#8221; Secretary Collins replied. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t part of it and I&#8217;m not going to speculate more than what the president has already talked about or those who have been involved have talked about — but I&#8217;d love to talk about the veterans.&#8221;
The CNN anchor would not let it go, however, and tried again: &#8220;And I do have questions about the veterans, but given what we saw with the group chat and how this was used. You are a member of the cabinet, you obviously know these other members, several of them who were in there. Is this typical for the cabinet to have conversations over Signal? Is this something that you use?&#8221;
&#8220;All right, well, Kaitlan, since you undoubtedly don&#8217;t want to talk about the VA, I have a question as VA Secretary,&#8221; Secretary Collins said. &#8220;I want to ask you, because I&#8217;ve been curious about this because my job is to take care of veterans, and I would like to know why CNN is hostile to veterans — especially one in Florida, where you just had a $5 million defamation suit taking offense at a veteran who was trying to help people. In fact, one of your employees actually said, &#8216;We&#8217;re gonna nail him.'&#8221;
&#8220;I have a question for you, Kaitlan,&#8221; Secretary Collins continued. &#8220;Is that employee still employed? Are you really concerned about veterans? So if we don&#8217;t want to talk about veterans now, you want to talk about everything else, I&#8217;d like to hear from CNN as the veterans&#8217; cabinet secretary, why CNN seems to have a problem with veterans.&#8221;
The CNN anchor would not answer his question. Instead, she tried to go back to the Signal chat again: &#8220;My question was about whether or not you, as a member of the cabinet, use this —&#8221;
She went on to claim that she did have questions regarding veterans, but Secretary Collins wasn&#8217;t buying it.
&#8220;No, Kaitlan, what you want to do is talk about a subject that I&#8217;ve already answered,&#8221; he shot back. &#8220;And if you want to continue this, like this, that&#8217;s fine, but there are VA employees that are working very hard. There are veterans who get their care from the VA and they get their benefits from the VA, and it does me no good to speculate on something that I&#8217;ve already asked and answered. So I&#8217;ve answered your question, why don&#8217;t you answer mine?&#8221;

Doug Collins Eats Kaitlan Collins’ Lunch Over Signal Chat SNAFU

Doug Collins Eats Kaitlan Collins' Lunch Over Signal Chat SNAFU

Kaitlan Collins

Former Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), who was recently sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, announced on Monday that he was cutting nearly $180,000 from the VA&#8217;s expenses by canceling subscriptions to Politico.
&#8220;Ran across a $178,000 contract VA had with Politico and we promptly canceled it. That money can be better spent on Veterans health care!&#8221; Collins posted via X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Ran across a $178,000 contract VA had with Politico and we promptly canceled it. That money can be better spent on Veterans health care!
&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1888950609358749765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Collins spoke with <a href="https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/curtis-houck/2025/02/10/another-one-bites-dust-veterans-affairs-axes-nearly-180k-politico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsbusters</a> about his plan to cancel the Politico Pro subscriptions, telling the outlet that he was ushering in &#8220;a new day at VA&#8221; and adding, &#8220;We’re putting Veterans at the center of everything the department does, focusing relentlessly on customer service and convenience.&#8221;
&#8220;We’re working every day to find new and better ways of helping VA beneficiaries. That means cutting wasteful spending and redirecting resources toward programs that benefit Veterans, families, survivors and caregivers,&#8221; Collins added.
The VA has already taken actions to root out and terminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives, a move that could save the department millions of dollars.
Musk responded to the news Collins had posted, saying, &#8220;Wow. I recommend looking at all media and software subscriptions for either full cancellation or reduction.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Wow. I recommend looking at all media and software subscriptions for either full cancellation or reduction. <a href="https://t.co/0qALNqajZ3">https://t.co/0qALNqajZ3</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1888970149933252953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Politico became a headline last week when it was reported that the federal government spent some $8 million in payments for Politico Pro subscriptions in FY 2024. Other reports indicated that the outlet has received  as much as $34 million from various federal agencies for similar subscriptions.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Politico scandal is worse than you think.
It’s not $8M that Politico received from USAID.
It’s $34.3M that Politico has received from various swampy federal govt agencies.
Politico is, without a doubt, a totally corrupt propaganda arm of the swamp.
Follow along below. <a href="https://t.co/OxF7Zrc4GP">pic.twitter.com/OxF7Zrc4GP</a>
&mdash; Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liz_Wheeler/status/1887173667504947433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to other reports that followed, Politico was far from the only outlet receiving large sums either through USAID or from numerous other federal government agencies.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not just Politico,&#8221; Climate Dispatch posted via X. &#8220;The NYTimes and AP are also raking in millions in subscriptions each year.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It&#39;s not just Politico. The NYTimes and AP are also raking in millions in subscription cash each year. <a href="https://t.co/GJ2PN3LhsN">https://t.co/GJ2PN3LhsN</a> <a href="https://t.co/oxmwktz7xP">https://t.co/oxmwktz7xP</a>
&mdash; Climate Dispatch (@ccdeditor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ccdeditor/status/1887490130962727154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

Secretary Doug Collins Saves VA $180K Just By Terminating Politico Subscriptions

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Politico

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening that he has nominated one of his top former allies from the House of Representatives to serve as the head of Veterans Affairs.
&#8220;I am pleased to announce my intent to nominate former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as The United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA),&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War.&#8221;
&#8220;We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Thank you, Doug, for your willingness to serve our Country in this very important role!&#8221;
Collins defended Trump during the two impeachments that he faced during his first term in office and against allegations that his 2016 campaign colluded with the Russian government.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
In a statement, Collins said that he was &#8220;honored to accept @realDonaldTrump&#8217;s nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.&#8221;
&#8220;Our heroes deserve the best care and support,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they&#8217;ve earned.&#8221;
&#8220;Together, we&#8217;ll make the VA work for those who fought for us,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Time to deliver for our veterans and give them the world class care they deserve.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Honored to accept <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Our heroes deserve the best care and support.
We&#8217;ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they&#8217;ve earned.… <a href="https://t.co/StWK0XcYAm">pic.twitter.com/StWK0XcYAm</a>
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDougCollins/status/1857200798599360589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>

Trump Taps Doug Collins To Lead Veterans Affairs

Executive

I’m proud to have served my country, and I know firsthand the sacrifices that come with wearing the uniform. Our veterans deserve the best, and under President Trump’s leadership, we made historic strides to ensure our heroes receive the care they earned. But under Biden and Harris, we’ve seen our veterans once again pushed aside for the sake of political agendas. The current state of the Department of Veteran Affairs is unacceptable, and it’s time to fix this once and for all. Together with President Trump, we’ll restore the honor and support our veterans deserve.
Under President Trump’s first term, we achieved monumental progress for our nation’s veterans. For instance, he signed the VA Choice and VA MISSION Acts, granting our heroes the permanent option to see their own doctors and access care at non-VA facilities. These reforms made a real impact: 3 in 4 veterans reported improvements at their local VA, with shorter wait times and expanded community care options.
But now, the Biden-Harris administration has allowed our VA system to crumble under the weight of mismanagement, waste, fraud, and leftist initiatives that prioritize bureaucrats over veterans. This has resulted in tragic setbacks for those who have given everything for this country.
The good news? We have a golden opportunity to fix the VA once and for all — and we will. Here’s how:
<h3>Just Say No To DEI</h3>
In a second Trump administration, merit-based hiring and evaluation must be a top priority.
Let’s ensure that the VA hires and promotes employees based on skills, performance, and dedication to veterans. This approach will strengthen the workforce and ensure veterans are served by the most qualified individuals.
DEI mandates are having destructive and measurable impacts on the VA system. For example, the group Do No Harm recently uncovered that the Biden-Harris administration focused on “diversity” programs even as veterans faced a massive claims backlog.
On day one, President Trump can sign an executive order directing each department head to eliminate required employee trainings that surround, involve, relate, or have any nexus to: &#8220;gender identity,&#8221; &#8220;Critical Race Theory,&#8221; &#8220;implicit bias,&#8221; &#8220;diversity, equity, and inclusion,&#8221; or in any way scapegoats and entire group of people for the outcomes of any other group.
And in Congress, we can pass new legislation codifying that order and ensuring that our federal government is making hiring decisions based on merit and job performance.
<h3>Restore Accountability</h3>
In their final days in office, the Biden administration recently reinstated thousands of VA employees terminated under President Trump’s first administration.
This included employees engaging in conduct such as sleeping on the job and employees who gained unauthorized access to patient medical records.
Not only were they reinstated but these employees cumulatively received over $134 million in back pay.
Under President Trump, we must again terminate these employees.
Because President Trump will not surrender to Democrat-aligned government unions. And for us in Congress, let’s use this opportunity to build on the 2017 Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act to ensure that employees who fail our veterans will pay the price.
<h3>Increasing Choice, Quality Of Care, And Contract Competency</h3>
It’s long past due to enhance the VA&#8217;s ability to develop and manage contracts that focus on real service outcomes, prioritizing contracts with vendors who demonstrate proven capabilities to meet veterans&#8217; needs effectively and efficiently.
Under President Trump&#8217;s leadership, Congress in 2018 passed the VA MISSION ACT to create a VA community care network, allowing veterans to receive timely and quality care from both VA and non-VA providers.
This program is vital for veterans to have the flexibility and choice they need to get the best care possible. But in their final days in office, Biden bureaucrats are quietly aiming to overhaul the entire CCN structure by reducing the number of geographic regions in the entire country from 5 to just 2.
This is good for the swamp, but it’s terrible for veterans. Such an extreme decision would only reduce choice and decrease quality of care.
The good news is, President Trump and the incoming Veterans Health Administration leadership can end this scheme on day one.
And in Congress, we can pass legislation to protect veterans’ healthcare and ensure that decisions on who provides and administers that care is based on merit, capability and performance.
<h3>Benefits Delayed Are Benefits Denied</h3>
We must ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned through their service. The responsibility should be on the VA, not the veteran, to get benefits decisions correct, and VA officials should be held accountable for delays and failures.
<h3>Coordinate With DOD On Medical Documentation</h3>
It’s time to streamline the VA claims process for transitioning service members, reducing backlogs, and improving access to care. This can be done through increased coordination with Department of Defense (DoD) hospitals to document service-related injuries and conditions as they happen. Our veterans can’t afford delays.
Our veterans didn’t back down when duty called, and now it’s our turn to serve them. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will make the VA a place where our heroes receive the respect, care, and resources they rightfully deserve.
The Biden administration’s incompetence has cost veterans precious time and benefits. But with Trump back in the White House, and fighters like me in Congress, we will restore the VA to its former greatness. We will make sure no veteran is left behind — no more red tape, no more delays, just action and results.
This Veterans Day, let’s not just thank those who served; let’s commit to fighting for them as hard as they fought for us. Together, we’ll honor their sacrifice, fix the VA, and build an America worthy of the brave men and women who defended it.
Because when it comes to our veterans, failure is not an option. Let’s get to work!
* * *
<a href="https://twitter.com/AbrahamHamadeh?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abe Hamadeh</a> is a former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer and proud to now represent Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Abe is on a mission to secure our border, protect our rights, and defend America’s greatness for future generations.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Veteran American Flag, Military Uniform, Freedom Concept: Fourth of July or Veteran’s Day

How I Will Work With President Trump To Fix The VA 

Arizona

Biden Administration

Congress

Opinion

U.S. House of Representatives

As a congressman, Democratic vice presidential candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-walz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz</a> voted against a bill meant to streamline and improve medical treatment for military veterans. 
In 2018, Walz was one of 70 Democrats in the House who <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2018189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted against</a> the “VA MISSION Act,&#8221; which gives veterans the option to get healthcare from a nearby provider and bill the VA if their nearest VA provider was more than 30 minutes away. The law also ensures veterans would be able to get an appointment for primary care, mental health care, and non-institutional extended care services within 20 days of reaching out to the VA.
Despite Walz and other Democrats opposition, the bill passed 347-70 in the House and 92-5 in the Senate. 
&#8220;This is truly a historic moment, a historic time for our country,” former President Donald Trump said as he <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/06/trump-signs-55-billion-bill-replace-va-choice-program.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> the legislation in June 2018. &#8220;We&#8217;re allowing our veterans to get access to the best medical care available, whether it&#8217;s at the VA or at a private provider.&#8221;
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) told The Daily Wire on Wednesday that the legislation was something that “the veterans’ community had been asking for for decades” and that Trump and a Republican-led Congress got it passed.
“Essentially if the VA can’t give you the service you need, the wait lines are too long or you have to drive too far, you can just go to your doctor and they’ll bill it to the VA. It’s common sense legislation and it&#8217;s one of the most popular and consequential pieces that we’ve had and Walz voted against it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“He&#8217;s going to be at the table of every national security council. Probably one of—if not the only one—with any military experience at all, and he exaggerated what he did. That&#8217;s disqualifying in my view.”<a href="https://twitter.com/michaelgwaltz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@michaelgwaltz</a> tells Daily Wire reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentScher?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrentScher</a> why he was one of 50… <a href="https://t.co/okxx3SmLOX">pic.twitter.com/okxx3SmLOX</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1826376700483305545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Waltz said that Tim Walz should be “called to task” for the vote. 
“I would like to think that’s something he regrets,” Waltz said. “He would be eliminating choice from our veterans community and putting all the eggs back in that bureaucracy of the VA that often doesn’t get the job done for our vets.”
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Walz has come under fire for making misleading claims about his service in the National Guard, specifically about misrepresentations about him serving in combat zones. 
On Wednesday, 50 Republican veterans in Congress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/50-republican-vets-in-congress-sign-letter-condemning-walz-for-lying-about-his-military-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent</a> a letter to Walz accusing him of diminishing the service records of other veterans
“You have stated that you are ‘damn proud’ of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be,” they stated. “But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service. Repeatedly claiming to be a ‘Retired Command Sergeant Major’ when you did not complete the requirements was not honorable,&#8221; the letter states.
&#8220;Nor was it honorable to claim to carry weapons ‘in war’ when you had not served in war, and abandoning the men and women under your leadership just as they were getting ready to deploy was certainly not honorable either.”

TOPSHOT-US-VOTE-POLITICS-DEMOCRATIC-CONVENTION

Walz Voted Against Trump-Backed Bill That Gave Veterans More Health Care Options

2024 Election

Tim Walz

U.S. Military

U.S. Politics

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign put out a statement falsely claiming her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, had “chaired” the Veterans Affairs Committee.
The statement came as the campaign defended Walz’s military record, which has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walz-embellished-and-selectively-omitted-facts-about-his-military-career-retired-national-guardsmen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavily scrutinized</a> since he was announced as Harris’ VP pick. The statement, given to media outlets <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/08/banks-pentagon-tim-walz-military-record" target="_blank" rel="noopener">such as Axios</a>, defended Walz’s service in general terms before falsely claiming he chaired the influential committee.
&#8220;After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform — and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families,&#8221; the campaign said.
But as Real Clear Politics <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2024/08/08/harris_campaign_said_walz_chaired_veterans_affairs_he_did_not__151420.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, Walz never chaired the committee. He spent more than a decade in the House of Representatives and rose to become the ranking member on the Veterans Affairs Committee – meaning he was the highest ranking member for the party not in power – but he never actually chaired the committee.
A Harris aide told RCP that the campaign made “an innocent mistake” in making the claim.
“Governor Walz was ranking member/top Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,” a spokesperson told the outlet.
The “mistake” comes after Walz’s misleading comments about his military service became national news. Walz has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tim-walz-repeatedly-misconstrued-his-military-service-here-are-the-examples?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwnewstwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly claimed</a> he retired as a “command sergeant major,” when he, in fact, retired as a master sergeant because he didn’t meet the conditions to maintain his promotion to command sergeant major.
<a href="http://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1722714742764000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1XzmEsRwzti1RFNuISwYgd">WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI</a>
The Harris campaign has already had to change his official vice presidential campaign biography because it <a href="https://archive.is/y0lck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initially said</a> he was a “retired Command Sergeant Major.” The <a href="https://kamalaharris.com/meet-governor-tim-walz/">bio</a> now says he “served as a command sergeant major.”
Walz had been promoted to command sergeant major on the basis that he would serve additional time following that promotion, but he retired after his unit was warned it could be deployed to Iraq.
In <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thomas.behrends.927/posts/2192944367614526" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an open letter</a> posted to Facebook in 2018, retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr wrote that Walz retired just a few months after receiving a warning order that his battalion would be deployed to Iraq – even though he told military personnel he would be going on the mission.
“On May 16th, 2005, [Walz] quit, betraying his country, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war,” Behrends and Herr wrote.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tim-walz-repeatedly-misconstrued-his-military-service-here-are-the-examples">Tim Walz Repeatedly Misconstrued His Military Service. Here Are The Examples.</a>

Kamala’s Campaign Falsely Claims Tim Walz ‘Chaired Veterans Affairs’

Harris Campaign Falsely Claims Tim Walz ‘Chaired Veterans Affairs’

Elections

Kamala Harris

The granddaughter of <a href="https://apnews.com/008575741d9345eea438430705d293ed/Woman-in-iconic-V-J-Day-Times-Square-kiss-photo-dies-at-92">the nurse featured</a> in an iconic photo of her being kissed by a random sailor after the announcement of the end of World War II said her grandmother was “proud of the image” and “never felt violated.”
On V-J Day in 1945, dental nurse Greta Zimmer, who was Jewish and had fled Austria to escape Hitler and the Nazis in 1939, was walking through Times Square in New York City when a U.S. Navy sailor, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/obituaries/george-mendonsa-dead.html">most likely</a> George Mendonsa, grabbed her, bent her backwards and kissed her. Famed photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped the photo, which was published a week later in Life magazine and immediately became immortal. Zimmer later married Mischa Friedman and had a son and daughter.
But RimaAnn Nelson, the VA assistant secretary for health for operations, sent a memo in February to the Veterans Integrated Services Network Directors saying the photo should be removed and replaced at all VA facilities because it “depicted a non-consensual act,” and “is inconsistent with the VA’s no tolerance policy toward sexual harassment and assault.” The memo stated that the photo needed to be removed to maintain the department’s “respectful, safe and trauma-informed” workplace.
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EXCLUSIVE: 
The Department Of Veterans Affairs just BANNED the V-J Day kiss photo from all department facilities.
&quot;To promote a culture of inclusivity and awareness… your cooperation is vital.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MZfNHbpV76">pic.twitter.com/MZfNHbpV76</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1765005503040499813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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After backlash ensued, VA Secretary Denis McDonough later tweeted, “Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities.”
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Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities &#8211; and we will keep it in VA facilities. <a href="https://t.co/dYSikLxHAJ">pic.twitter.com/dYSikLxHAJ</a>
&mdash; Secretary Denis McDonough (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1765030481299460188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Caroline Branin, Friedman’s granddaughter, told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13161023/Granddaughter-nurse-kissed-Time-Square-iconic-V-J-Day-photo-proud.html">The Daily Mail</a>, “As my grandmother told it to me, she was at work and she went downstairs at lunchtime to see what was happening. George grabbed her and kissed her. It was a split second thing and the photographer just happened to be there. She never felt violated or anything like that &#8230; She was always very proud of the image and she thought it was two young people celebrating in the street &#8230; My grandma signed images of the photo up until she died. She was proud to be an American citizen. She was a refugee from Austria and so the end of the war marked more to her than for everyday people.”
“She never felt it was something inappropriate,” she continued. “It&#8217;s interesting they tried to reframe historical events in today&#8217;s values. I have a picture in my house that my grandma signed and even George Mendonsa signed it. My grandma stayed in contact with George and she did parades on V-J Day with him. She never said it was anything she felt was uncomfortable.”
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“At college I had a women and gender studies teacher who showed that image and said: ‘This is a sexual assault,’” Branin recalled. “I put my hand up and said that&#8217;s actually my grandma, she didn&#8217;t view it that way. The teacher disagreed with me. I can understand the argument but for my grandmother it represented the end of the war and they&#8217;re celebrating.”
Friedman only learned about the photograph in the 1960s and immediately recognized herself. She and Mendonsa communicated in later years and became friends; she died in 2016 at the age of 92.

iconic photograph

‘She Never Felt Violated’: Granddaughter Of Nurse Kissed In Iconic WWII Photo Responds To VA’s Woke Memo

'She Never Felt Violated': Granddaughter Of Nurse Kissed In Iconic WWII Photo Responds To VA Memo Calling It 'Non-Consensual'

Kissing

Wokeness

World War II

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it is not banning the use of the famous World War II photo showing a sailor kissing a woman in white after an internal memo directed otherwise.
The famous &#8220;V-J Day&#8221; photo shows a U.S. Navy sailor kissing a total stranger in Times Square in the immediate aftermath of the news that Japan had surrendered.
The memo last month from RimaAnn Nelson, the Veterans Health Administration’s top operations official directed VA medical facilities to &#8220;promptly&#8221; remove the photo and replace it with something more appropriate
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
EXCLUSIVE: 
The Department Of Veterans Affairs just BANNED the V-J Day kiss photo from all department facilities.
&quot;To promote a culture of inclusivity and awareness… your cooperation is vital.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MZfNHbpV76">pic.twitter.com/MZfNHbpV76</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1765005503040499813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities &#8211; and we will keep it in VA facilities. <a href="https://t.co/dYSikLxHAJ">pic.twitter.com/dYSikLxHAJ</a>
&mdash; Secretary Denis McDonough (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1765030481299460188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“The photograph, which depicts a non-consensual act, is inconsistent with the VA’s no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault,” the memo <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/03/05/va-reverses-plan-to-ban-iconic-wwii-kiss-photo-from-medical-sites/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>.
“To foster a more trauma-informed environment that promotes the psychological safety of our employees and the veterans we serve, photographs depicting the ‘V-J Day in Times Square’ should be removed from all Veterans Health Administration facilities,” the memo directed.
On Tuesday, the memo went viral on social media, sparking nearly instant backlash.
&#8220;UNAMERICAN. The Biden administration is now banning one of the most iconic photos in WW2 history, the famous Times Square kiss between a nurse and a sailor. Their rewriting of American history and American culture will not stand,&#8221; Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanZinke/status/1765035883768549392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X.
Later on Tuesday, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough took to social media to reassure critics that the photo would not be banned.
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&#8220;Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities &#8211; and we will keep it in VA facilities,&#8221; McDonough said.
&#8220;VA is NOT banning this photo from VA facilities,&#8221; Veterans Affairs said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire.
The VA added that a memo was sent out that should not have been, and it has now been rescinded.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed the VA&#8217;s statement on Tuesday as well, saying the memo was &#8220;not sanctioned.&#8221;
“The VA is not going to be banning this photo,” Karine Jean-Pierre <a href="https://apnews.com/article/times-square-kiss-photo-veterans-affairs-memo-b24d5dba6930be867e9ac1be6dff16e5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I can definitely say that the memo was not sanctioned, and so it’s not something that we were even aware of.”
The famous photo, which also shows people spilling out of bars, restaurants, and movie theaters to celebrate the end of the war, was snapped by journalist Alfred Eisenstaedt in New York City on August 14, 1945. A Navy photojournalist also caught the moment from a different angle.
The man and woman in the photo are thought to be <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sailor-nurse-from-iconic-vj-day-photo-reunited/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Mendonsa and Greta Friedman</a>, both of whom passed away within the last decade.

The Kiss Statue at Bayshore Park.

Veterans Affairs Rescinds Memo Banning V-J Day Kiss Photo

Biden

Nineteen Democratic attorneys general said that the Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-veterans-affairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Veterans Affairs</a> should cover costly genital surgeries for transgender-identifying veterans in part because that’s what former Republican President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abraham-lincoln" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abraham Lincoln</a> would have wanted.
The Democrat officials, representing 18 states and Washington, D.C., filed an <a href="https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/thecentersquare.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/a8/fa886aea-c116-11ee-be63-6b3afb2d1710/65bbb9a52d7bb.pdf.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amicus brief</a> on Wednesday in support of the Transgender American Veterans Association, which is suing the VA to cover the costs of vaginoplasty and phalloplasty surgeries.
&#8220;The mission of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is to fulfill President Abraham Lincoln&#8217;s simple promise: &#8216;to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors,'&#8221; the attorneys general wrote in the amicus brief, which was first <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_8b53a78e-c116-11ee-8c69-432b52fda8e7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on by The Center Square. &#8220;Taken together, the regulation and implementing directive render President Lincoln&#8217;s promise an empty one for many transgender veterans. Although the VA recognizes the existence of transgender veterans, the VA falls short of serving and caring for all veterans when it prevents transgender veterans from accessing medically necessary and potentially life-saving treatment.&#8221;
The officials said that the surgeries, which often have serious long term side-effects, were both “life-saving” and “medically necessary.” The surgeries covered would also be those that remove the breasts of women who identify as men.
&#8220;Transgender veterans with gender dysphoria are left without life-saving healthcare, and are vulnerable to physical suffering, depression, and suicidal ideation,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;Further, the VA&#8217;s approach stands in tension with the experience of the amici States – which have found giving transgender people access to comprehensive healthcare, including medically necessary surgery – provides significant benefits at negligible costs.&#8221;
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The VA currently uses taxpayer funds to pay for veterans to get cross-sex hormones, hair removal, and so-called “voice training,” <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/transgender-veterans-lawsuit-va-gender-affirming-surgery-rcna135566" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC News. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough previously said that the department would start paying for genital and breast surgeries at some point, but the department hasn&#8217;t started yet.
The attorneys generals of Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont all signed on to the brief.
Last year, House Republicans attempted to pass a measure that would prohibit taxpayer money from going toward paying for transgender procedures.

Washington, D.C. Cityscapes And City Views

Democrat AGs Say Lincoln Would Have Wanted VA To Pay For Veterans’ Transgender Surgeries

Democrat AGs Say Lincoln Would Have Wanted VA To Pay For Veterans' Transgender Surgeries

Abraham Lincoln

Democrats

Social Issues

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