For too long, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been synonymous with bureaucracy, inefficiency and delays — barriers that have prevented America’s heroes from receiving the care they deserve. I saw and heard testimonies of this firsthand when I helped organize and lead hundreds of veterans to Washington in an event called Vets on the Hill. We stood together to seek action, raise awareness, and highlight the gridlock within the VA that stands in the way of progress.

While there have been steps forward, the truth remains: the system is still broken, and more must be done.

That’s why I am hopeful now that Doug Collins is VA secretary. Collins has a reputation for cutting through red tape and getting things done. If he truly commits to changing the VA from the inside out, we could finally see the transformative reform that veterans have been waiting for.

The problems plaguing the VA are not new. Veterans face long wait times, inefficient claims processing, and a system that often prioritizes bureaucracy over patient care. Those who fought for this nation should not have to fight for the basic medical and mental health services they were promised. One of the most pressing issues is mental health care. Every day, we lose veterans to suicide — an epidemic that continues to devastate military families. The VA’s mental health system is overwhelmed, and many veterans are left without proper treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-related conditions.

According to a 2022 VA report, 1 in 3 veterans suffer from PTSD, 1 in 10 struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), and 1 in 10 seek treatment for depression. But the darkest finding of all from this report is that, on average, 17 veterans take their own lives every day.

Collins has signaled that tackling veteran suicide and homelessness, modernizing VA health care, and cutting through red tape are among his top priorities. Under his leadership, the VA is set to expand suicide prevention programs, like Mission Daybreak, which leverages community-based solutions to reduce veteran suicides.

Beyond mental health, Collins has emphasized the need to improve access to care through the MISSION Act, which ensures veterans can seek private-sector care if VA services are insufficient. This expansion of veteran choice could alleviate the backlog and allow veterans to receive timely, high-quality treatment. Collins has also vowed to continue implementing the PACT Act, which provides essential health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances — a critical issue that has long been overlooked.

Additionally, Collins has prioritized modernizing the VA’s claims processing system and electronic health records (EHR). The VA has already processed a record number of claims in a single day and plans to resume EHR modernization in 2026, beginning with sites in Michigan. If implemented effectively, these updates could significantly reduce wait times and improve care coordination for millions of veterans.

Collins has an opportunity to be the leader who will finally make the VA work for veterans, not against them. But he cannot do it alone. It will take pressure from Congress, advocacy from veterans, and a commitment from the American people to demand this real change.

As someone who has fought both on the battlefield and on Capitol Hill for my fellow veterans, I will not stop pushing for reforms that put veterans first. Collins has laid out a roadmap for real change — it is up to all of us to ensure those promises are kept.

Our nation owes them nothing less.

Matt Kenney is president of public affairs at Echo Canyon Consulting. He served as a U.S. Army infantry officer and is a combat veteran.