Wichita Standard

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, alongside other senators, has expressed concerns over President Donald Trump's tariff plan and trade war. They highlight potential impacts on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides health care to 9.3 million veterans across more than 1,380 facilities.

In a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Blumenthal and his colleagues stated their worries about how these policies could affect the availability of critical medications and medical supplies. "We have significant concerns with President Trump’s tariff plan and trade war," they wrote, requesting information on measures taken to mitigate these impacts.

The senators noted that many essential healthcare goods are produced abroad and emphasized the potential for increased costs due to tariffs. They warned that such policies might lead to reduced access to necessary services for veterans.

Blumenthal's letter was signed by Senators Alex Padilla, Jacky Rosen, Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, Ben Ray Lujan, Dick Durbin, and Tina Smith.

They also raised issues regarding the private sector's role in providing 40% of VA's healthcare services. The senators questioned how veterans would receive timely care amid financial strains in private healthcare systems if further reductions occur.

Furthermore, they pointed out challenges posed by the trade war to the construction industry vital for maintaining VA facilities. Concerns were raised about potential delays or cancellations in construction projects due to rising costs.

The letter calls for understanding how the VA plans to address these challenges while ensuring veteran services remain unaffected by ongoing trade policies.