Overview

• VA Secretary Doug Collins accused journalist Patricia Kime of spreading unverified rumors about a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee working at the VA.
• Collins argued that Kime's February 5 article unnecessarily alarmed veterans and VA employees by suggesting DOGE representatives might access sensitive data, which the VA denies.
• The VA confirmed that a single DOGE liaison is tasked with improving efficiency and identifying waste, without access to veterans' or beneficiaries' data.
• Collins emphasized the need for accurate reporting, urging Kime to avoid baseless claims and to verify information through official channels in the future.
• The dispute highlights tensions between the VA and media over the portrayal of DOGE's role in the department's reform initiatives.