VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins take an oath on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 before his confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator urged Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins on Thursday to exempt VA employees from the federal hiring freeze, saying his credibility will be affected by early decisions that may be at odds with the administration.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, also urged Collins in a letter to seek reinstatement of Mike Missal as VA inspector general. Missal was among at least 18 inspectors general removed by Trump from agencies and departments, including the VA, State, Defense and Transportation.
Twenty-four Democrats, including Blumenthal, joined Republican lawmakers to vote 77-23 to approve Collins’ nomination as secretary of Veterans Affairs. The former Georgia congressman pledged to improve the quality of care at the VA and cut regulations that delay veterans receiving their benefits.
Blumenthal also asked Collins to stop tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency from accessing VA data systems that contain veterans’ records, including protected personal information on their health, benefits and finances.
“We have seen an unprecedented number of dangerous and unlawful actions from the White House that will decrease access to care for veterans across the country,” Blumenthal wrote.
GOP lawmakers also struck a positive tone about their expectations for Collins, as he assumes the top role at the VA, the federal government’s second-largest department next to the Defense Department.
Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., a physician who serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said he looks forward to working with Collins to make meaningful reforms at the VA to improve health care for veterans and the delivery of benefits.
Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., who is chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said he is pleased Collins plans to support veterans’ continued access to private medical care when VA services are not available.
The growing use of medical care by veterans outside the VA has vexed some Democratic lawmakers, who have expressed concern that funding is being shifted away from the VA to pay for private health services.
But Bost said he knows Collins has the interests of veterans in mind after serving with him in Congress. Collins, a Republican from Georgia, served in the House from 2013 to 2021.
“I have no doubt that he is the right man for the job,” Bost said.
