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The Hill
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Veterans pay debts while reality TV elites get pardons
It's disheartening to see veterans penalized for government errors while wealthy tax evaders walk free and secure media deals. Justice should honor sacrifice — yet far too often, it rewards fame and fortune. This is not just mismanagement; it is a systemic betrayal. We must demand a system that truly values those who serve. The Department of Veterans Affairs is reclaiming from disabled veterans billions in alleged overpayments. Many of these veterans were unaware of this until they received debt notices months or even years later. Meanwhile, elites emerge from prison with smiles, stylists and TV contracts. Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted of millions in tax fraud, were pardoned by President Trump. Days later, news broke that they would return to television with a rebooted reality show produced by Scout Productions. The agents are reportedly tied to Trump-aligned media and political circles, proving once again how power and privilege convert even scandal into profit. And while they sign new deals, veterans remain on hold with the VA Debt Management Center, disputing errors that might cost them rent. Where is our president and commander-in-chief? The numbers don't make sense. The VA has issued $5.1 billion in overpayments since 2021 and is now aggressively trying to recoup those funds from veterans, many disabled, retired or transitioning out of service. IRS data from 2024 shows the wealthiest Americans evade more than $150 billion in taxes each year. And what did Congress do? It rescinded $20.2 billion in IRS funding, cutting the resources needed to pursue those very tax cheats. In other words, the Trump administration is actively targeting working-class veterans and letting billionaires off the hook. Service, sacrifice and integrity are not political ideas, but American ideals. When we demand repayments from disabled veterans while pardoning millionaire fraudsters, we don't just betray those who served, but the very foundation of what America is meant to represent. We don't need more lawmakers, but leaders who remember the purpose and legacy of the oath to defend life, liberty, and the sacred right of free will. This is not a partisan issue, and it's time to call this what it is: moral decay at the highest level. Tim James, a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant, served 22 years honorably — 11 years enlisted and 11 years as a commissioned officer through the Navy's Limited Duty Officer program. He is a volunteer with Veterans For Ethical Leadership and advocates for policies that uphold the dignity of service and expose systemic failures affecting veterans and democracy.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Smart budget cuts at the VA could help preserve critical services
What does it mean to keep a promise to our veterans and to the next generation? With the national debt surpassing $36 trillion, a serious assessment of federal spending, including within the Department of Veterans Affairs, is not just prudent, it's necessary. This isn't an ideological debate. It's arithmetic. Nearly one in every four dollars the federal government spends is borrowed. Interest on the debt exceeds what we spend on national defense. If we continue on this path, we risk crowding out critical programs, including those that serve our veterans and their families. The VA is the second-largest federal agency by budget, behind only the Department of Defense. Since 2001, its annual budget has increased more than 500 percent, from $45 billion to over $320 billion in 2024. By next year, the VA has requested a nearly 10 percent increase. Much of that growth is warranted. We have fought two decades of war, expanded eligibility through legislation like the PACT Act, and developed advanced care for physical, mental and environmental health needs. But budget growth hasn't always translated into better outcomes. Although the number of veterans in the U.S. has declined from 26 million in 2000 to about 19 million today, the number of veterans using VA health care has more than doubled, from 2.7 million to 6.5 million. Services have expanded, but inefficiencies have multiplied. A 2022 report by the Government Accountability Office found dozens of VA medical facilities operating at less than 30 percent capacity. Efforts to modernize or consolidate these centers have stalled due to political resistance, despite evidence that realignment would improve care and reduce costs. The VA's electronic health record modernization effort has also been plagued by cost overruns, delays, and coordination failures. Despite billions in spending, the system remains fragmented and difficult to navigate for many veterans. This isn't about making harmful or arbitrary cuts to benefits. Veterans have earned their care, and we must honor that promise. But upholding that promise also requires us to ask whether every dollar spent is actually improving outcomes. The Congressional Budget Office has identified several policy changes that could reduce waste and improve service delivery. These include consolidating underused infrastructure, eliminating duplicative services across agencies, modernizing procurement and supply chains, and adjusting income thresholds for certain non-service-connected benefits. These reforms would not eliminate services. They would make sure funding is directed to areas of greatest need, expanding access, reducing wait times and investing in prevention and mental health support. This conversation matters now more than ever. As interest payments on the debt rise, they threaten to crowd out all other spending. The government already spends more than $950 billion a year just to service the national debt, and that number is expected to grow. In 2025, mandatory spending — things like Social Security, Medicare and debt interest — will account for 74 percent of the federal budget. That leaves only 26 percent for everything else, including veterans' care. If we don't address inefficiencies now, we may soon face a future where essential services are on the chopping block. Reforming the VA is not just a budgetary issue, it is about securing the future of veterans' care in a fiscally sustainable way. Some argue that any talk of reform is a betrayal. But the real betrayal is allowing waste and dysfunction to persist. Veterans do not need broken systems wrapped in patriotic language. They need care that is accessible, responsive and built for their realities. That means investing in what works — technology upgrades that improve outcomes, partnerships that bring care to rural areas, and early interventions that prevent bigger crises down the road. Veterans' organizations should not shy away from these conversations. We should lead them. That includes demanding transparency, performance metrics and meaningful oversight. It also means acknowledging that the VA, like every other agency, must adapt to a rapidly changing fiscal and demographic landscape. The VA's mission is to care for those who have borne the battle. Fulfilling that mission doesn't mean avoiding hard questions. It means confronting them with honesty, clarity and courage. Reforming the system is not abandonment — it is the only way to keep our promise. In a time of mounting debt and growing needs, fiscal responsibility and moral obligation are not in conflict. They are aligned. Veterans and their families deserve a system that works, and future generations deserve a country that can afford to keep its promises. We can have both, but only if we are willing to do the hard work now. Mike Desmond is the strategic director of government affairs and advocacy at Mission Roll Call, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of veterans and their families. He is a former CIA officer and Special Operations veteran.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Amid VA policy change row, employees receive 'wild' email and asked to report waste, abuse
At a time when new VA hospital bylaws regarding treatment offered to Democrats and unmarried veterans have sparked outrage, VA employees have received a email asking them to report waste and fraud. The email has also instructed them to provide a one-sentence description of the problem and their recommended solution. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What does the email sent to VA employees read? Employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were instructed to report a single instance of "fraud, waste, or abuse," as the agency announced the discontinuation of its previous requirement for staff to submit weekly emails listing five work accomplishments. According to a leaked email from VA Chief of Staff Christopher Syrek , employees at VA were directed to identify a departmental problem and suggest a solution for it last week, reports NewsWeek. VA is the second-largest U.S. government department, which employs approximately 470,000 March, tech billionaire Elon Musk who was spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formed to slash federal spending and downsizing agencies. He had asked government employees to send a detailed weekly email detailing their list of accomplishments achieved in the previous week. Failure to comply would be taken as a resignation, Musk said at the since Musk has announced his departure from DOGE, some agencies have continued to demand these emails while others have put a halt to it, including the Department of Defense, reports development comes after a report in The Guardian claimed that new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals could refuse care to veterans based on factors like marital status and political affiliation due to an executive order by President Trump. The Guardian reported that 'doctors and other medical staff can also be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity."White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly adamantly denied The Guardian's reporting. Writing on social platform X, Kelly addressed the article's writer, Aaron Glantz, saying, 'Aaron, this is a totally FALSE story that The Guardian should retract immediately. Fearmongering with our Veterans to try to score clicks for your failing 'news outlet' is pathetic and shameful.'"Starting today, VA is ending the requirement for these weekly updates, but we are asking you to make a different, one-time submission. Please identify a VA issue that you consider to be a problem and an example of fraud, waste, or abuse and provide a one-sentence description of the problem and your recommended solution," the VA email sent on June 13 read. It added that staff were to email submissions to their direct supervisors by June Williams, director of the Center for Defense Information at the nonpartisan watchdog Project On Government Oversight, told Newsweek that the request needed to be managed carefully by VA leadership. While emphasizing the importance of addressing waste, fraud, and abuse, he cautioned that the email could be perceived as 'a threatening demand' for staff to 'rat on their colleagues.'Williams said: "I think the impact of this depends a lot on how individual line managers address it. As a professional watchdog, I believe we should all—government employees and private citizens alike—always be on the lookout for waste, fraud and abuse. I see setting an example and teaching others how to be better watchdogs as fundamental not only to my job, but also my identity as a citizen of a democracy. So, if VA employees are encouraged to treat this email as inspiration to be more careful with the public trust, I'm all for continued: "I'm concerned that if VA employees receive this email from a Trump appointee, without reinforcement from their more immediate supervisors, they will wonder if the Trump administration trusts the VA chain of command, and they will receive it as a threatening demand that they rat on their colleagues. I'd expect this to be counterproductive."The email has stirred concern among VA employees. One staff member, speaking to Newsweek on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation, described the message as "insulting." They noted that the government already has established mechanisms—such as the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Inspector General—for reporting waste."The email was wild, they said. "And it felt like once again a 'snitch on your co-workers' email."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
White House denies Guardian report claiming VA rule changes allow discrimination against veterans
New VA rules do not permit political or marital discrimination, officials say The White House has firmly denied a report published by The Guardian claiming the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented new rules allowing medical staff to deny care to veterans based on marital status, political affiliation, or other non-protected characteristics. The original article, published on June 17, alleged that these changes were introduced following a January executive order by President Donald Trump . The order, titled 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government ,' aimed to restrict federal recognition of gender identities beyond biological sex. The Guardian reported that, as a result, some VA hospitals began removing protections against discrimination based on national origin, politics, and marital status from staff bylaws. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 只是塗萬寧賣到翻的「煙酰胺」就跟斑點分手了 了解更多 Undo Also read: Breaking down the new VA Policy 2025: Key rule changes and what they mean for veterans and families However, both the White House and the VA have categorically rejected these claims. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stated on X (formerly Twitter), 'Aaron, this is a totally FALSE story that The Guardian should retract immediately. Fearmongering with our Veterans to try to score clicks for your failing 'news outlet' is pathetic and shameful.' The statement directly addressed The Guardian journalist Aaron Glantz. Live Events — AnnaKelly47 (@AnnaKelly47) VA says federal law still protects veteran rights in all medical facilities Responding to the allegations, the Department of Veterans Affairs reiterated its compliance with federal anti-discrimination law. VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz issued a statement, asserting that 'all eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they've earned under the law.' Further denying The Guardian's claims, Macaulay Porter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the VA, stated, 'Federal law prohibits that, and VA will always follow federal law.' He addressed specific allegations from the article, calling it false that VA hospitals could refuse treatment to unmarried veterans and Democrats, and false that VA staff could be barred from employment based on political or marital status. Additionally, Porter disputed The Guardian's assertion that veterans might need to register at distant hospitals due to changes in hospital bylaws. 'VA will always follow federal law,' he stated, adding that any such implication was incorrect. Also read: VA spokesperson issues clarification on bombshell report claiming doctors can refuse treatment to Democrats Disputed report cites executive order and alleged VA bylaw changes In its original article, The Guardian claimed the VA removed language from its hospital bylaws that previously prohibited discrimination based on marital status, political affiliation, and other characteristics. The publication said these changes applied to a wide range of medical personnel including doctors, psychologists, social workers, and therapists. Dr. Kenneth Kizer, a former VA healthcare official during the Clinton administration, was quoted expressing concern about potential discrimination. He stated the rules 'seem to open the door to discrimination on the basis of anything that is not legally protected.' Dr. Arthur Caplan of NYU's Grossman School of Medicine described the rules as 'extremely disturbing and unethical,' suggesting the changes risk allowing doctors to act on political biases when delivering care. Despite these concerns, the VA and the White House maintain that all care policies align with federal law, and that eligible veterans remain entitled to treatment regardless of any such factors. Veteran groups acknowledge bylaw revisions, seek clarity on scope Although the VA has denied the existence of discriminatory practices, some veteran advocacy groups have acknowledged changes in local bylaws and are actively investigating their impact. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said, 'We're trying right now to really gather the information we can, to see how widespread the changes of bylaws might actually be.' Also read: New VA policy sparks outrage as doctors may refuse treatment to Democrats and unmarried veterans alike Hunter also noted that the VA has historically maintained broad anti-discrimination protections and that recent executive orders may have led some VA hospitals to revise their bylaws. However, she emphasized that there are no rules mandating discrimination and that VA employees remain committed to serving all veterans. The American Medical Association recently passed a resolution affirming its commitment to medical staff self-governance, urging VA hospitals to follow standards set by the Joint Commission and consult staff before making bylaw amendments. As the discussion continues, the central dispute remains whether any VA policy has formally permitted discriminatory treatment, a claim the VA and the White House continue to strongly refute. FAQs Q1: Do the new VA rule changes allow doctors to refuse treatment based on political affiliation? A: No, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the White House, the recent VA rule changes do not permit doctors to deny treatment to veterans based on political affiliation. Federal law still prohibits such discrimination, and all eligible veterans will continue to receive care. Q2: What did The Guardian report about VA rule changes and veterans discrimination? A: The Guardian reported that new VA rule changes, introduced after a Trump executive order, allegedly allow medical staff to refuse treatment based on factors like marital status and political affiliation. However, VA and White House officials have called the report false and misleading. Q3: What protections do veterans have under current VA policies? A: Veterans are protected under federal law from discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and other legally recognized categories. The VA has confirmed that all eligible veterans will receive healthcare services regardless of political beliefs or marital status, despite claims made in recent reporting. Q4: Has the VA confirmed any changes to hospital bylaws across its facilities? A: While some veterans' organizations note that bylaws may have been updated at specific VA hospitals, the VA has denied that any changes permit discrimination. Officials say all VA rule changes comply with federal law and do not restrict access to care for veterans.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
VA spokesperson issues clarification on bombshell report claiming doctors can refuse treatment to Democrats
A spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has denied a report published in the Guardian that Veterans Administration was changing its policies regarding care delivery to veterans in VA Health facilities. The report suggests that US President Donald Trump's executive order can lead to doctors at the VA denying treatment to unmarried veterans and Democrats. Documents obtained by the Guardian show that hospital new rules, based on Trump's January 30 executive order, have already gone into effect at some VA medical centers. The new rule also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations, the Guardian report says. However, a VA spokesperson has disputed key facts reported in that article, according to a report in Healthcare Innovation. ALSO READ: VA policy change: US doctors can question veterans whether they attended Trump's rallies before treatment? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo VA on Guardian report The report says that doctors and medical professionals working for the Department of Veterans Affairs can now refuse to treat Democrats and unmarried veterans. Previously, VA hospital bylaws barred medical staff om discriminating against patients 'on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, politics, marital status or disability in any employment matter. But individual workers are now free to decline to care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law. However, VA press secretary, Peter Kasperowicz, as not disputing Guardian reporting, stated that 'all eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they've earned under the law.' Live Events In an emailed statement to The Guardian, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz did not deny that doctors can refuse to treat patients based on their beliefs or that hospitals could fire physicians based on their marital status or political affiliation. 'All eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they've earned under the law,' he said in a statement, calling the rule changes a mere 'formality.' ALSO READ: American Express hints at a big upgrade to its Platinum Credit card in 'largest investment ever' Macaulay Porter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, asserted as "false" the idea that VA hospitals could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats, Porter said "federal law prohibits that and VA will always follow federal law". "All eligible Veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they've earned under the law," he said. He also declared false the statement in the Guardian story that doctors and other medical staff could be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity stating, 'False: federal law prohibits that, and VA will always follow federal law.' What does the VA policy say? Health care professionals at the Department of Veterans Affairs can now discriminate against Democrats, the Guardian report said, and this is due to Trump's anti-trans executive order. While medical staff are still required to treat patients regardless of race, color, religion, or sex, new rules at the VA have explicitly removed protections based on political party affiliation, martial status, and national origin, The Guardian reported Monday. ALSO READ: New VA policy sparks outrage as doctors may refuse treatment to Democrats and unmarried veterans alike Similarly, health care professionals can now be banned from working at the VA over their political affiliation, marital status, and union membership, according to documents obtained by The Guardian. The new rules apply to a wide range of professionals, including psychologists, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, certified nurse practitioners, podiatrists, social workers, and speech therapists. It wasn't immediately clear how the VA made the leap to denying patient care and firing doctors over their political affiliations. Under the new rules, doctors could question veterans about whether they had attended Trump rallies or protests, experts warned.
