Wichita Standard

In a recent forum hosted by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, concerns were raised about the Trump Administration's reductions in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits. These cuts are feared to negatively impact the implementation of the PACT Act, a bipartisan law enacted in August 2022 aimed at providing healthcare and benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances.

Blumenthal emphasized the importance of outreach and teamwork for the success of the PACT Act. He stated, “The PACT Act has been an extraordinary gift to so many veterans... It cannot work if the Secretary of the VA says, ‘We’ll fire everyone who's not a frontline worker.’”

Witnesses at the forum expressed worries over plans to cut 83,000 employees and cancel contracts essential for implementing the PACT Act. Toxic exposure expert Dr. Robert Miller highlighted concerns over canceled contracts that would have supported cancer registries: “One of my concerns has been one of the contracts cancelled was for cancer registry.”

ProPublica recently reported on these cancellations, which have caused alarm among those advocating for veterans' health care. Blumenthal criticized VA Secretary Collins’ plans to reduce staffing levels: “There’s just no way—none—that the VA can provide [adequate] care and benefits with 83,000 fewer staff.”

Disabled American Veterans Assistant National Legislative Director Marquis Barefield voiced frustration over lack of transparency regarding these cuts: “The VSO community... we don’t know what’s going on.” Rosie Torres from Burn Pits 360 also stressed how these changes could harm veteran-centric care.

Former VA employee Sara Gavin underscored that effective veteran health services require more than just physicians: “You cannot have just the physicians running the facilities.”

Since its enactment in 2022, over 214,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care under PACT Act provisions. The act has resulted in more than 2.5 million claims related to toxic exposure.

Blumenthal reiterated his commitment to holding VA accountable: "We are determined as Senate Democrats to use every tool...to hold this VA accountable." He pointed out discrepancies between increased claims due to PACT Act provisions and staffing resources.

The forum concluded with calls for careful reform rather than drastic cuts. Blumenthal noted specific canceled contracts vital for overseeing PACT Act implementation and stressed that improvements should not compromise veteran care.