VA Secretary Defends DOGE Initiatives Amid 'Fake News' Claims
VA Secretary Doug Collins refutes ‘fake news’ accusations and highlights the opening of four new VA clinics under the Trump administration.
In a recent appearance on ‘Fox & Friends’, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins strongly defended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives, dismissing critics’ claims as ‘fake news’. Collins, who has been in office for just a few months, announced the opening of a fourth new VA clinic, this time in Hamilton, Montana, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to veterans’ care despite criticisms over alleged cuts.
Collins addressed the accusations head-on, stating that under his leadership, the VA has not only maintained but expanded its services. “As government union bosses, the legacy media, and some in Congress have been spreading false rumors of health care and benefits cuts at VA, we’ve opened multiple brand-new clinics that will serve tens of thousands of veterans,” he asserted. This new clinic in Montana, which is 600% larger than the previous facility, is part of a series of new developments including clinics in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Aurora, Colorado, and Ridgewood, Queens, New York.
Despite the opening of new facilities, Collins acknowledged the ongoing efforts to reduce the VA workforce by 15% through DOGE, aiming to streamline operations from 471,000 to 398,000 employees. However, he reassured that these reductions would not impact the quality or availability of services to veterans. Collins criticized the opposition, particularly from Democratic senators like Elissa Slotkin and Bernie Sanders, who have expressed concerns over potential service disruptions due to staff cuts.
Collins emphasized that the VA’s inclusion on the Government Accountability Office’s high-risk list for issues like waste and insufficient care necessitated a reevaluation of resource allocation. He argued that the Trump administration’s approach was about ensuring resources were used wisely to better serve veterans, rather than merely increasing budget and staff without addressing underlying inefficiencies.
In addition to workforce adjustments, Collins highlighted efforts to reallocate $980 million previously spent on contracts towards direct patient care. He also announced a policy change regarding the treatment of gender dysphoria, stating that the VA would no longer offer cross-sex hormone therapy to new patients with this diagnosis.
As the debate over the VA’s direction continues, Collins remains steadfast in his defense of the administration’s policies, urging the public and critics alike to focus on the tangible improvements and expansions in veterans’ services rather than unfounded rumors.