Doug Collins Confirmed as Veterans Affairs Secretary in Bipartisan Senate Vote

The former Georgia congressman and military chaplain pledges to improve care for veterans while addressing systemic challenges within the VA.

Doug Collins was confirmed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in a 77-23 Senate vote, reflecting bipartisan support for the Trump nominee.
Collins, a veteran and former Air Force Reserve chaplain, emphasized plans to streamline VA operations, improve healthcare access, and combat veteran homelessness and suicide.
The confirmation comes as the VA faces rising costs from expanded benefits under the 2022 PACT Act and ongoing challenges with modernizing its electronic health record system.
Collins faced scrutiny during his confirmation hearing over his stance on a Biden-era VA policy allowing limited abortion services, pledging to follow the law in reviewing its legality.
The VA, the second-largest federal department, serves 18 million veterans and operates with a $369 billion budget and over 370,000 employees.