VA Secretary James G. Collins testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, outlining his vision for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and detailing plans to reduce its workforce by 83,000 employees.
Goals and Workforce Reduction
Collins stated that his goal is "to make the VA exactly what it should be – taking care of veterans in an efficient and effective manner." He emphasized that the focus will be on cutting payroll and human resources positions rather than critical roles such as doctors and nurses.
- Collins believes that increasing employee numbers has not improved performance; instead:
- Wait times have increased.
- Backlogs have worsened since 2011, despite adding 52,000 new full-time employees between 2021-2024.
Streamlining Operations
In addition to workforce reduction, Collins aims to cut red tape within the department to enhance operational efficiency. Under his leadership, the VA has successfully reduced its backlog of benefit claims and assessments by 21% for nearly nine million veterans.
Controversial Program Changes
During the hearing, Democrats questioned Collins about his decision to dismantle the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase Program (VASP), which had helped over 17,000 veterans avoid foreclosure but cost taxpayers $5.5 billion in loans.
- Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin) is sponsoring legislation to replace VASP with a new Home Loan Reform Act. This act would:
- Allow private lenders access to data about military personnel who may struggle financially due to deployment-related income disruptions.
- Ensure that military personnel do not have to sign away their rights as borrowers.
Criticism and Acknowledgments
Ranking member Mark Takano (D-California) criticized Collins for using fear tactics against public servants at the VA during financially challenging times, partly caused by former President Donald Trump’s trade policies. However, Takano acknowledged some positive steps taken recently, such as rescinding diversity initiatives within certain divisions of the agency.
Conclusion
The hearing highlighted ongoing concerns about how best to support veterans through various programs while ensuring fiscal responsibility within government agencies like the VA.
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