On Wednesday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins appeared on Newsmax with a huge announcement for United States veterans under the Trump administration. He declared that “veterans are first at the VA.”
This announcement comes after the VA let 1,400 employees go on Monday, which the administration described as “nonmission-critical” probationary workers. In other words, they are cutting costs where they are being wasted in order to put those funds towards what really matters – which are the veterans.
Collins said in response to backlash from lawmakers who claim the layoffs will prevent the VA from being able to provide adequate care. He noted that under the Biden administration, “their idea of government was to throw money and people at any problem.”
He revealed during his appearance on The Chris Salcedo Show, “We saw that really didn’t work in education. We saw it didn’t work in a lot of places. And frankly, it doesn’t work in many of the businesses lines that we have up here, from health to benefits to even our cemeteries. So what we’ve got to do is say, Can we do it better? Do it more efficiently, and still have the veteran receive the benefits?”
“Because our focus here is using all the resources that I can to make sure our veterans are first at the VA,” Collins added.
The secretary also posted to X earlier this month, declaring that his number one mission is to help veterans. He wrote, “My day 1 message is simple. We will deliver nothing short of the highest quality care to Vets and elevate the VA to new heights. It’s a new day at the VA. Bring it on.”
Check it out:
My day 1 message is simple.
We will deliver nothing short of the highest quality care to Vets and elevate the VA to new heights.
It’s a new day at the VA. Bring it on. pic.twitter.com/7qje9bA1Ti
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) February 5, 2025