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President Trump Signs Executive Order to Modernize Veterans' Benefits and Employment Access

President Trump Signs Executive Order to Modernize Veterans' Benefits and Employment Access

President Trump signed Executive Order “Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities” on September 8, directing the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to modernize the sharing of military personnel files and treatment records. This order mandates the establishment of updated information technology systems, policy guidance, and memoranda for the permanent and ongoing transfer of Official Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records between the two departments. Specifically, the Department of Defense is required to ensure that current service members' official personnel files, health records, and Service Treatment Records are shared with the VA immediately upon discharge or release from the armed forces, and within 30 days of the order for existing records. The executive order also calls for separating service members to be connected with appropriate veterans' representatives to facilitate applications for healthcare, disability, home loan, job placement, or educa...

Veteran Onrie Brown Renews Push for Full-Service VA Hospital in Mobile, Alabama

Veteran Onrie Brown Renews Push for Full-Service VA Hospital in Mobile, Alabama

Onrie Brown, a Vietnam veteran and retired Mobile fire medic, addressed the Mobile County Commission to advocate for the establishment of a full-service VA hospital in Mobile, Alabama. Brown highlighted that veterans in the area are currently required to travel to Pensacola, Florida, or Biloxi, Mississippi, for healthcare services not available at Mobile’s existing outpatient VA clinic. The current Mobile facility, which opened in 2019, offers primary care, mental health care, laboratory testing, audiology, and women’s health care, but lacks essential services such as dental care and a pharmacy, which are available at the Pensacola VA Clinic and the full-service Biloxi VA Medical Center. Brown emphasized the need for closer healthcare access for the significant veteran population in Mobile and Baldwin counties, which combined total over 43,818 veterans according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2020-2024.

VA Terminates $1 Billion in Contracts Following Trump Administration Directives

VA Terminates $1 Billion in Contracts Following Trump Administration Directives

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) terminated 435 vendor contracts, totaling $1.1 billion, between January and June 2025, following directives from the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A federal watchdog report from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that these contracts were terminated 'for convenience,' a legal mechanism allowing agencies to discontinue projects deemed no longer necessary or not in the government's best interest. VA Secretary Doug Collins established a team on February 11, 2025, to identify cost-saving measures, specifically targeting contracts for mentors, consultants, coaches, advisers, and those providing only reports or advice. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., criticized the 'top-down process' and the timing of the cancellations, noting that questions about the impact on veterans were often raised only after contracts were marked for termination. The OIG report, however, did not find evidence that specific veteran benefi...

Congresswoman Kiggans Hosts VA Secretary Collins for Veterans Roundtable in Virginia Beach

Congresswoman Kiggans Hosts VA Secretary Collins for Veterans Roundtable in Virginia Beach

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), a Navy veteran, recently hosted U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins in Virginia Beach for a roundtable discussion focused on supporting Coastal Virginia's veterans. The visit included a stop at Be Free Craft Café, a veteran-owned small business, followed by a roundtable at the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center with local veterans and community stakeholders. The discussions aimed to provide veterans with a direct channel to VA leadership to address concerns regarding care, benefits, and services. Congresswoman Kiggans emphasized the importance of the VA listening directly to the men and women it serves. Since taking office, Kiggans has focused on improving veterans' healthcare, strengthening VA accountability, and ensuring veterans receive their earned benefits. In May 2026, she voted for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, which allocated $450.29 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Addition...

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Backed by Veteran Action for Reelection, Championing Veterans' Rights

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Backed by Veteran Action for Reelection, Championing Veterans' Rights

Veteran Action, an organization supporting America First policies for veterans, has endorsed Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) for her reelection campaign, recognizing her as a strong advocate for America's veterans. A new video campaign ad released by Veteran Action highlights Miller-Meeks' two decades in the Army and her career as a physician as foundational to her work in Congress. The ad specifically mentions her co-sponsorship of the Veterans Access Act, which aims to provide veterans with more choices in their healthcare, and her Veterans Bill of Rights, designed to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clearly informs veterans of their entitlements. Mark Lucas, founder and president of Veteran Action, stated that Miller-Meeks is 'the biggest champion veterans have in Congress' due to her consistent leadership on veterans' issues and her relevant experience. Earlier this year, Miller-Meeks introduced the Veterans' Bill of Rights Act to ensure veterans receive clear and consisten...

New Social Security bill seeks to lower retirement age

New Social Security bill seeks to lower retirement age

The proposed act challenges Social Security's traditional approach to determining retirement readiness.

VA's Turnaround Offers Playbook for Improved Government Services, Niskanen Center Reports

VA's Turnaround Offers Playbook for Improved Government Services, Niskanen Center Reports

A new report by the Niskanen Center, a Washington think tank, highlights the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a case study for how government agencies can improve service delivery. The report argues that the VA's recovery from a scandal involving long wait times at its Phoenix health system a decade ago provides a playbook for other agencies. By prioritizing accountability, ownership, and execution in services like claims processing and appointment scheduling, the VA increased veteran trust by 25% between 2016 and 2024. The reforms have enabled the agency to process over 3.5 million claims related to the PACT Act, which expanded healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

Democrats can't shake their DSA problem | Opinion

Democrats can't shake their DSA problem | Opinion

From New York to Michigan, DSA candidates keep winning Democratic primaries – and the party can't seem to push back as the midterms approach.

US senators press for quick Chinese vehicle ban this week as Xi visits

US senators press for quick Chinese vehicle ban this week as Xi visits

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - US senators proposing bipartisan legislation to make permanent a ban on Chinese vehicles are aiming to win quick Senate approval this week, as President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping, one of the bill's authors said on

Representative Richard Hudson Sponsors Legislation to Convey Federal Land for North Carolina Veterans Home

Representative Richard Hudson Sponsors Legislation to Convey Federal Land for North Carolina Veterans Home

Representative Richard Hudson, who represents North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, has sponsored H.R. 10159, legislation aimed at authorizing the Secretary of the Army to convey federal property to North Carolina. This land transfer is specifically for the construction of a new state veterans home. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the motion by voice vote on September 14. The bill addresses a critical need for a new facility after the previous Fayetteville State Veterans Home, established in 1999, was closed in February 2024 due to extensive structural deficiencies and damage from hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The state of North Carolina has already committed $40 million towards the new facility, but requires federal land for its construction. The legislation provides the necessary legal pathway for the state to acquire approximately 20 acres of federal property at Fort Bragg. H.R. 10159 was received by the U.S. Senate on September 15 and has been referred to the Senate Armed Services ...

Homeland Security defends officers in immigrant's fatal car crash in Michigan

Homeland Security defends officers in immigrant's fatal car crash in Michigan

The federal government is defending its officers after a fatal crash last weekend involving an immigrant in western Michigan

Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson Discuss Kamala Harris's Michigan Appearance and Democratic Party Direction

Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson Discuss Kamala Harris's Michigan Appearance and Democratic Party Direction

Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson, on their podcast 'Verdict with Ted Cruz,' analyzed Vice President Kamala Harris's recent appearance in Michigan alongside Abdul El-Sayed. Their discussion focused on remarks made regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and maternal health, which have generated controversy. The hosts also delved into El-Sayed's previous involvement with the 'uncommitted' movement during the 2024 election cycle, examining what this might indicate about the future trajectory of the Democratic Party. The conversation further extended to a broader debate concerning socialism within the political right, with Senator Cruz articulating his perspective on why conservative voters should reject policies that resemble the economic approaches typically associated with the left. Additionally, the episode covered a widely discussed essay by Nikole Hannah-Jones, where she reflected on her decision to keep her daughter in a struggling public school and the subsequent regrets, leading to a...