Congress moved forward with a bill aimed at broadening access to non-VA healthcare for veterans
In a series of developments, the United States is making strides in improving healthcare for veterans and the selection process for military leaders.
Former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller has been appointed to lead the effort to streamline Navy command and control, should Adm. Daryl Caudle be confirmed as the chief of naval operations. Caudle, President Trump's pick for the position, has pledged to propose a plan for this purpose.
Meanwhile, the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025, a bill aimed at expanding veterans' access to non-VA health care, has made significant progress. The Act, which passed the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee with bipartisan support, seeks to strengthen timely referrals and coordination for community care, particularly for vital services such as Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs.
Senator Kevin Cramer, a co-sponsor of the bill, advocates for easing restrictions for veterans living close to rural "critical access" hospitals. This would allow them to use VA benefits to receive care at these non-VA facilities and affiliated clinics without the need for VA staff referrals, benefiting rural veterans who often face long travel distances to VA hospitals.
Veterans groups widely support this legislation, which affirms the commitment to improving veteran healthcare access through community care options, enhancing outcomes for physical and mental health, and expanding coverage beyond traditional VA facilities.
The Act is now in an advanced legislative stage and, once enacted, will increase veterans' access to non-VA healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas and for specialized rehabilitation programs, by easing bureaucratic barriers and improving referral processes.
In another development, the Agriculture Department is planning to relocate more than half of its D.C. area employees to five hubs across the country, with lower locality pay rates. This move is part of a broader trend, as the USDA is not alone in its plans to relocate employees. The House VA Committee has advanced the Veterans' ACCESS Act, a bill expanding veterans' access to non-VA health care, and the Senate is considering the Federal Firefighters Families First Act, aiming to reduce mandatory overtime hours and adjust benefits calculations for federal firefighters.
On the military front, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a sweeping review of how the Defense Department selects and promotes military officers. The review, intended to ensure the military selects the best leaders to command America's troops, will examine everything from performance evaluations and current promotion board processes to command selection boards and professional military education.
Today marks the end of the Defense Department's troubled household goods moving contract. All military moves will be handled under the legacy moving system for the foreseeable future. However, the Trump administration has released a list of planned reductions in force across the government, but officials are cautioning that the list isn't a reliable indicator of what's actually happening with the administration's workforce reductions.
These advancements in both healthcare and military leadership underscore the commitment to improving the lives of veterans and the effectiveness of America's military forces.
- The ongoing revamping of the federal workforce extends beyond the military, as the Agriculture Department plans to relocate a significant portion of its employees to five hubs across the country.
- Amidst the efforts to reimagine the federal workforce, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a comprehensive review of the Defense Department's selection process for military leaders, aiming to foster the best leadership for America's troops.
