Voters sent a clear message to Washington in November: They’re tired of bloated federal bureaucracies that have lost sight of their mission. They want new leaders in Washington focused on American greatness and serving the people who put them there.
For America’s veterans, President Donald Trump’s second administration couldn’t come quickly enough. For the last four years, the men and women who wore the uniform in defense of this nation have been coping with a Department of Veterans Affairs adrift from its top priorities: quality local healthcare options, timely access, and accountability across the department.
But the VA is poised to benefit from a dramatic change in leadership. Trump’s VA secretary nominee Doug Collins is a friend and former colleague of mine who served Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a Navy veteran, an Air Force reservist who deployed to Iraq, and an accomplished attorney. And, once he’s confirmed, he will be the first military chaplain to lead the VA. Doug is first and foremost a servant, and he will restore accountability to the department.
In 2017, Democrats and Republicans joined together to pass the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. The law gives VA the authority it needs to remove employees for serious misconduct or job performance deficiencies, tools every organization needs to ensure excellent service.
While the Trump administration used this bipartisan law to fire scores of VA employees who weren’t living up to the department’s mission, the bureaucracy has protected itself and refused to do so. More than 100 VA staff who were let go for misconduct were reinstated, and the Biden administration paid out more than $130 million to nearly 1,700 former VA workers fired under Trump.
In 2018, Democrats and Republicans once again joined together to pass the VA MISSION Act, which gives veterans the option of seeking care outside the VA when wait times are too long or when it’s in their best medical interest. It provided a new opportunity for veterans to seek care in their own local communities, and millions of veterans used this benefit during the first Trump administration.
Inexplicably, former President Joe Biden’s VA worked for years to hide this option from veterans by burying references to the MISSION Act on its website and otherwise obstructing veterans’ attempts to use the healthcare options Congress promised them through the legislation.
Even the most basic fiscal and public relations management has been sorely lacking. Last summer, the department declared it had a $15 billion budget shortfall across multiple accounts. Where was the communication from the department? Where was the transparency? The situation caused panic, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty for many veterans and their families. The failure to communicate in a timely or transparent manner regarding the shortfall led to Congress providing bipartisan supplemental funding to address the issue in September, only for those funds to go unused by the VA.
When a bureaucracy governs by panic and a lack of clarity, it produces more of the same. Doug is one of the most transparent, honest people I know, and these qualities will serve him, the Trump administration, and most importantly the veterans very well. He will put the veteran first, not bureaucracy.
We have a real chance to fix what has sadly become an incompetent and rogue department. It needs servant leadership with a keen focus on mission to take the helm.
As a Navy veteran and Air Force Reserve colonel, Doug knows what veterans go through during their service and the complex issues they can face upon their return to civilian life.
As a military chaplain, Doug is the perfect choice to instill a culture of caring public service and accountability at the VA, while improving outreach to our most vulnerable veterans — those at risk of suicide or homelessness.
As a member of the bipartisan congressional majorities that passed critical VA reforms such as the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act and the MISSION Act, Doug has the policy and management expertise necessary to lead this large and vital agency. He’s a former member who knows the intent of Congress, he’s a lawyer who understands the law, but most importantly he’s a chaplain who understands veterans and their needs.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
America was founded on the idea of individual liberty and self-governance, but our unique form of government didn’t just happen because people thought it was a good idea. Ever since our founding, Americans have volunteered to fight and serve for these important ideals.
The men and women who risk everything to defend our way of life deserve a VA that serves them, not one dedicated to preserving bureaucratic bloat. I’ve known many good people who have sought a position in the VA. Every one of them was well-intentioned, and every one of them was certain they would break through and make a difference. But now we have a commander in chief and Cabinet who will put veterans first. Doug Collins gives the VA its best chance of recommitting itself to its core mission, and veterans around the country are eager for this new chapter to begin.
Kevin Cramer is a U.S. senator for North Dakota.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
