Veterans Affairs News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of how America serves its veterans, including reporting on reforms, challenges, and success stories within the VA system.
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- Opinion
Dysfunction at DC Veterans Medical Center Shows Rot in Federal Workforce
When the majority of Americans look at Washington, they see a broken, bureaucratic system that far too often fails to defend their interests. We all learned again recently that the consequences of that failure can be deadly. The inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs announced April 12 that the VA Medical Center in Washington,…John Cooper -
- News
It’s Really Hard to Fire a VA Employee. This Bill Would Change That.
Veterans groups are backing a Republican bill to make it easier to fire bad employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate despite cases of employees who kept their jobs after misconduct, including a worker who committed armed robbery and a nurse who was intoxicated during a surgical…Fred Lucas -
- News
VA Tried to Pay $10 Million for 25 Parking Spaces, and 20-Year Official’s Excuse Is That He’s New
Federal officials took six years to plan a new parking lot for a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in West Virginia that would cost $10 million for only 25 parking spaces, as their solution for a 600-spot shortage. Then when outside auditors pulled the plug on the fiasco, the hospital’s top official—who had previously served as…Luke Rosiak -
- News
House GOP’s Obamacare Bill Could Leave Veterans Without Access to Tax Credits, Health Policy Expert Says
Changes made to the House GOP’s health care bill would prevent veterans from qualifying for the tax credits the new plan creates, according to a health policy expert. House Republican leaders revealed technical changes to the legislation, called the American Health Care Act, on Monday. But a review of the changes shows that potentially millions…Melissa Quinn -
- News
VA Hospital Removes Trump Photo Hung by Veterans
A Veterans Affairs hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, is facing questions today for removing photos of President Donald Trump and VA Secretary David Shulkin. (Update: The White House has ordered VA hospitals to hang Trump’s photo.) Fox News’ Ed Henry reported Thursday on “Fox & Friends” that U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and a wounded…Daily Signal Staff -
- News
Veterans Explain Why They Came to Trump’s Inauguration
Thousands of people gathered in the District of Columbia to watch the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump was sworn into office Friday at noon, where he marked the event as a time of change for the American people. “Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Fixing the VA for Our Veterans: What Will Trump’s Pick Need to Do?
It’s official: President-elect Donald Trump has selected David Shulkin, the Department of Veterans Affairs undersecretary for health, to be the next VA secretary. Shulkin, who has been undersecretary since July 2015, faces substantial challenges in reforming the troubled agency and restoring it to its mission of providing timely care and benefits to veterans nationwide. The…John Cooper -
- News
Meet David Shulkin, Trump’s Pick to Lead VA
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday his intent to nominate David Shulkin for secretary of veterans affairs. Trump made the announcement during a press conference in New York City, his first since the November election. “I’ll tell you about David, he’s fantastic,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “He will do a truly great job. One of the…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Federal Worker Union Is Blocking Republican VA Reforms
President-elect Donald Trump promised to fire incompetent and dishonest Department of Veterans Affairs employees, but he will have to fight the American Federation of Government Employees—the largest federal worker union—every step of the way. During the 115th Congress, Trump—along with Republican majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives—can enact sweeping reforms to improve every…Luke Rosiak -
- News
VA Hospitals’ ‘Improvement’ Doesn’t Tell Whole Story, Veterans Advocate Says
MADISON, Wis.—The headlines last month declared that most U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers saw improvement in fiscal year 2016. It seemed like a positive end to another rough year for the VA and the people the government-run health care system is supposed to put first. But a veterans advocate is advising news consumers to read the fine…M.D. Kittle -
- News
The Healing Power of Fly Fishing for Combat Veterans
On 112 acres off Springhill Road in Belgrade, Montana, sits a six-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot home called Quiet Waters Ranch. The ranch belongs to the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, a nonprofit located 10 miles south in Bozeman that teaches combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan how to fly fish in the place that’s considered the sport’s…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Why We Celebrate Veterans Day
Friday is Veterans Day. We celebrate Veterans Day on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, the day the guns fell silent in Europe following the armistice that ended World War I. For some, it’s a day off from school or work, but for the majority of Americans, it means so much…Thomas Spoehr -
- News
‘Clear Bias’ Against Hiring Veterans Under Obama Administration, Says Former VA Official
Veterans must be given preference in securing federal jobs, according to long-standing laws, but hiring hasn’t always worked out in their favor. A federal audit found that on numerous occasions, agencies placed Obama administration political appointees into career government jobs with civil service protections—bypassing veterans. Much of the federal bureaucracy has turned against men and…Fred Lucas -
- News
Controversial Proposal for Nurses Could Expand Access to Care for Veterans
For years, state and federal policymakers have discussed proposals to expand the role of advanced practice registered nurses, with major physician groups like the American Medical Association squaring off against nurse organizations like the American Nurses Association. But a proposed rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and clinical…Melissa Quinn -
- News
How Obama Political Aides Get Preference Over Veterans for Government Jobs
A disabled veteran didn’t get a job he sought in a federal agency, although he was qualified for the position and was supposed to receive preference. The job went instead to a political appointee of the Obama administration. “Hiring decisions must be free from political interference, legitimate, and justified,” @jasoninthehouse says. This was just one instance in which a…Fred Lucas -
- News
This Veterans Video Went Viral. Now It’s on the Big Screen in Times Square.
Veterans gathered in Times Square on a wet, rainy morning the day before Veterans Day to watch a video. Producer Stephen Clouse was present as a video tribute played to a crowd of a couple dozen veterans, who turned out in New York City despite pouring rain. The video, featuring the poem “Just a…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
Why VA Police Thought an Active Shooter Drill Was Real
Police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances converged at my office complex. As I stood in awe with my colleagues, someone said “There’s an active shooter in the building over there!” In disbelief I searched Twitter for clues. I found one tweet: Report of active shooter on 5th floor of skyline complex on Rt.7 in Fairfax…in…Daniel Kaniewski -
- Opinion
307,000 Veterans May Have Died While Waiting for VA benefits. The VA Status Quo Must Change.
Remember the Department of Veterans Affairs scandal in April, 2014 that exposed veterans had died as a result of waiting for healthcare? Veterans were placed on fake wait lists and were signed up for ghost clinics and records were manipulated. Deceit had become the norm in order to make the VA look better in an…Amber Smith -
- News
Heroes Saved: Service Dogs Rescue Veterans From Mental Illness
When former Marine Corporal Cole Thomas Lyle returned from his 400-day deployment to Afghanistan in November of 2011, he had never given much thought to post-traumatic stress. Eager to return to normalcy, Lyle attended a Rangers baseball game with his closest friends, the tickets a gift from his relieved mother. Standing proud as the National…Chelsea Scism -
- News
Country Star Works to Provide Veterans Mortgage-Free Housing
Country singer Tim McGraw is giving mortgage-free homes to veterans. The star, who is working in partnership with Operation Homefront and Chase Bank, has awarded six homes to veterans and their families so far during his Shotgun Rider 2015 Tour. McGraw is aiming to award another 30 homes before the tour ends in September. “These…Diana Stancy