Wichita Standard

Senators Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, and Bernie Sanders called for unanimous consent in the Senate to pass resolutions aimed at addressing changes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiated by the Trump Administration, which they argue have negatively impacted veterans. The resolutions were blocked by Senate Republicans.

Blumenthal highlighted the urgency of the situation: "The VA is in crisis. We need to take action for our veterans and VA employees who are deeply disserved and damaged by the Trump and Musk cruel slash and trash regime." He emphasized the blocked efforts to reverse cuts impacting mental health care and veteran employment.

Duckworth criticized what she described as reckless actions led by Donald Trump and Elon Musk: "Two power-hungry billionaires who never served a day of their lives in uniform are taking a chainsaw to the VA, jeopardizing Veterans’ care as well as firing Veterans by the thousands. And, by blocking our resolutions that simply condemn these reckless actions today, Republicans are once again cheering on Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s complete betrayal of our nation’s heroes."

Sanders acknowledged the need for improvements within the VA but called the proposed workforce reductions "absurd" and expressed concern over the Senate's rejection of protective measures: "The VA is not perfect. It needs improvement. But the idea that you can lay off 83,000 employees and make the VA more efficient is absurd. It is disturbing to me that anyone who claims to support veterans and the sacrifices they have made would object to this resolution."

Blumenthal's resolution sought to protect mental health care efforts from budget cuts, Duckworth's aimed to reinstate fired veterans, and Sanders' resolution opposed reducing the VA workforce. All moves were blocked by Senate Republicans.

Video of the Senators’ remarks is available for public view.