New VA Secretary approved by Senate, Dems stress the importance of maintaining employee protections against hiring freezes and dismissals

New Secretary for Veterans Affairs Promises Support for Medicare Network

The United States Senate has confirmed Doug Collins as the new Secretary of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department in a 77-23 vote. Collins, a former congressman, has vowed to support a public Medicare network for veterans and to prioritize the department's highly performing employees.

Collins, who served as a chaplain in the Navy and later joined the Air Force Reserve, has stated that he would look for ways to grow the department's offerings of private sector care. He has also pledged to continue to utilize and grow private sector options for veterans.

In a move to address underperforming employees, Collins has said he would move to more quickly and easily fire those not meeting expectations. He told lawmakers that he would be a cheerleader for VA employees doing their jobs properly and would take action to remove those not meeting expectations.

However, Sen. Richard Blumenthal has sent a list of demands to Collins after his confirmation. Among these demands, Blumenthal has requested that the VA should not allow Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency employees access to VA Medicare systems and records. He has also suggested that the Trump administration's actions be quickly reversed, including the partial onboarding freeze.

The VA has exempted 300,000 health care roles from the hiring pause, but more than a quarter of positions remain frozen. The nation's largest Medicare network would always exist for veterans according to Collins.

The VA has not been specified to implement operational changes outside of official VHA Operations guidance under Collins' leadership. It has also not been confirmed if Collins would have a role in the deferred resignation program or any VA employee placement on administrative leave.

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., stated that Collins would cut through bureaucratic red tape to ensure veterans receive care and services. However, Blumenthal suggested that without immediate action, veterans would suffer from severed access to critical grant programs, a lack of oversight, and a politicized VA workforce.

The former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Mike Missal, was dismissed by Collins; he served as the VA’s top watchdog for eight years before his firing. The VA has not been specified to reverse the hiring pause or exempt more positions from it under Collins' leadership.

At least one VA region has informed staff that guidance on the deferred resignation program would be forthcoming. The VA has placed dozens of employees who worked on Medicare issues on administrative leave. As the soon-to-be-sworn-in secretary, Collins will face the challenge of navigating these complex issues and ensuring the best possible care for America's veterans.

New VA Secretary approved by Senate, Dems stress the importance of maintaining employee protections against hiring freezes and dismissals