On Tuesday, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego announced his intention to block the confirmation of key leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This decision comes as part of a broader strategy by Democrats to demand the Trump administration cease plans that aim to significantly reduce jobs within the agency, which serves millions of military veterans across the nation.
Gallego, who is a Democrat and a Marine Corps veteran, revealed his decision just hours ahead of a scheduled Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing. The committee was set to hear testimony from three VA nominees, each of whom is also a military veteran. This announcement signifies a notable increase in partisan tensions surrounding veteran affairs, a sector that has traditionally experienced a degree of bipartisan collaboration between both Republicans and Democrats.
In a statement to the press, Gallego emphasized his commitment to veterans, saying, "Talking to veterans, people that I served with as well as seeing some of what's happening in Arizona, I decided that whatever tool I have to fix the situation, I'm going to use it. And this is one of the few tools I have at this point." The practice of placing a hold on nominations is a strategic maneuver sometimes employed in the Senate, which could result in significant delays in confirming the nominees as it requires additional floor time for each nomination.
Currently, there are 13 Senate-confirmed positions within the VA. So far, two officials have been confirmed: VA Secretary Doug Collins and Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence. President Trump has put forward nominations for five additional posts, leaving six positions without nominees as of yet.
Earlier in 2023, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville had placed a hold on the promotions of many top military officers to protest Pentagon policies regarding abortion. However, under pressure from his party, Tuberville eventually relented on most of his blockades. Gallego's hold is notably different and carries its own risks. He expressed regret over his decision while acknowledging the potential consequences, stating that he initially sought to work collaboratively with Collins, having even voted in favor of his confirmation.
The current situation at the VA is particularly critical, with plans underway to cut the workforce by over 80,000 employees, reverting staffing levels back to those of 2019. This scaling back comes at a time when the VA is under increased pressure to deliver benefits to veterans affected by burn pits and exposure to various toxins, following the enactment of the PACT Act in 2022.
Although Collins has assured that veterans’ benefits would not be impacted by these job cuts, Democrats, including Gallego, are vocally opposing these measures. They warn that such cuts would inevitably affect the quality of care provided to military veterans. Gallego highlighted a specific case from Arizona, where a VA hospital received directives to cut 15% of its workforce, emphasizing that such reductions could not occur without consequences to service delivery.
As a user of the VA services himself, Gallego expressed skepticism about the feasibility of maintaining quality care amidst such drastic staffing cuts, remarking, "There’s no way they’re going to be able to cut 15% of the workforce, and it’s not going to impact veterans’ benefits." His position underscores the ongoing debate regarding the balance between fiscal policy and the provision of essential services to those who have served in the military.
