Trump wants to ‘dismantle’ VA, veteran senator claims
Source: NEWSWEEK
Veteran Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois accused President Donald Trump of seeking to privatize and ultimately dismantle the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during a combative congressional hearing this week.
Why It Matters
The remarks come amid a fresh dispute over a VA disability compensation rule that sparked backlash from veterans’ groups. The comments also reflect a broader fight over the future of the VA and how veterans’ care should be delivered.
VA pointed Newsweek to recent remarks from VA Secretary Doug Collins in which he said the department has stopped enforcing the disputed rule and would keep gathering public feedback, insisting the department remains committed to protecting veterans’ benefits and speeding up claims despite criticism of the policy.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales rejected Duckworth’s claims, telling Newsweek that Trump has expanded veterans’ services, reduced benefit backlogs, and strengthened support for veterans, while accusing Democrats of political grandstanding.
Combat veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth speaks at the joint Senate (SVAC... | Congress
What To Know
Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs in combat, made the comments during a joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, where she criticized the Trump administration’s handling of veterans’ policy.
Speaking to lawmakers and veterans service organizations, Duckworth said she believes the administration’s long-term objective is to privatize the VA, arguing that recent actions fit into what she described as a decades-long effort to weaken the department from within.
“I see clear as day that the end goal here is to privatize and eventually dismantle the VA,” Duckworth said, accusing the administration of cutting the VA workforce, undermining labor protections, and moving care away from VA clinicians.
Her remarks focused heavily on an interim final rule issued by the VA that would have changed how disability ratings are evaluated, shifting assessments toward how a condition presents during a specific appointment rather than the underlying disability itself.
Critics, such as Duckworth, argue that the approach could discourage veterans from seeking treatment or applying for benefits, particularly under the PACT Act, which expanded coverage for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
“The interim final rule effectively disincentivizes our nation’s heroes from both seeking earned coverage for service-connected disabilities and following recommended treatments,” she said.
Duckworth said the rule was rolled out without adequate consultation with Congress or veterans service organizations, calling it an “ambush” that created anxiety across the veteran community.
She argued that even though the VA later paused enforcement, the underlying concerns remained.
“If you think that this is the end of this administration’s effort to attack disability compensation, then you are wrong,” she said, urging lawmakers to codify protections to prevent similar actions by future administrations of either party.
She also accused Trump of gutting the VA by firing large numbers of veterans, slashing the workforce, eliminating collective bargaining and blocking congressional oversight, which she said has created a culture of fear inside the department.
The Illinois Democrat framed the issue as bipartisan and veteran-focused, rather than political.
She called on Republicans, Democrats and veterans groups to work together to protect benefits and ensure the VA remains a fully public system.
“This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue”, she said. “This is a veterans' issue.”
What People Are Saying
Duckworth told the congressional hearing: "President Trump has fired more veterans than any other president in American history. He has taken an axe to the VA workforce. He's killed collective bargaining rights to ensure a culture of fear and consistently withheld oversight authorities from Congress."
She added: “Frankly, I’m tired of his broken promises, and the veteran community should be, too… This administration has turned its back on veterans every single time an opportunity has presented itself.”
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told Newsweek in a statement: “During his five years in office, President Trump has championed policies that support our great veterans.
"The President and his administration have opened new veteran health clinics across the country, launched the National Center for Warrior Independence to house homeless veterans, reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits, and ended taxes on Social Security – relieving the financial burden for veterans on fixed incomes.
"But while President Trump is working hard for our brave veterans, the Democrats showed the nation on Tuesday who they truly are – politicians who couldn’t even stand for the heroic Medal of Honor recipients who have risked their lives to defend our freedom. Shameful.”
VA Secretary Collins wrote in a post on X last week: “Effective immediately, VA is halting enforcement of the interim final rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication.
“VA issued the rule to clarify existing policy and protect Veterans’ benefits in the wake of an ongoing court action. But many interpreted the rule as something that could result in adverse consequences. While VA does not agree with the way this rule has been characterized, the department always takes Veterans’ concerns seriously.
“To alleviate these concerns, VA will continue to collect public comments regarding the rule, but it will not be enforced at any time in the future.
“Under my leadership, VA is ensuring that everyone applying for benefits receives everything they have earned as quickly and conveniently as possible. This includes reducing the backlog of Veterans waiting for benefits by more than 60 percent. We will continue these improvements on behalf of America’s Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors.”
Responding to the rule change last week, Jason Cameron, a Marine Corps veteran, podcaster and retired veterans benefits service officer, told Stars and Stripes: “This is an erosion of benefits.”
Charles Garbarino, a retired Army colonel and physician who served three tours in Iraq, said: “A lot of veterans prescribed medication for their service-related medical problems will cut it off, rather than lose compensation.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars national commander Carol Whitmore said: “As a former Army nurse, it seems this rule change could have unforeseen and harmful downstream effects for veterans, which is why it demands serious public scrutiny and possible legislative clarification from Capitol Hill."
DAV national commander Coleman Nee said: “DAV is extremely disappointed and alarmed by VA’s decision to issue an Interim Final Rule today that could potentially reduce disability compensation for millions of disabled veterans. The new regulation would allow VA to reduce disability compensation ratings for veterans who take medications to control their conditions or reduce their symptoms…
“…It is unclear if and how VA is implementing this dramatic change and how it will impact the more than 6 million veterans currently receiving disability compensation, most of whom are taking at least one medication.”
What Happens Next
The dispute is likely to continue as Congress debates whether to codify limits on how the VA can alter disability evaluations, with veterans’ groups pressing lawmakers to strengthen oversight and consultation requirements.
By: Sam Stevenson
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