First on Fox: Along with veteran group and veteran secretary Doug Collins, a group of veterans criticize Senate Democrats for delaying the nomination of major agencies for what some call danger or “Doge type” concerns.
One of the top candidates facing collective procedural obstacles before anniversary is Sam Brown, a former Nevada Senate candidate and Army captain, who was burned in more than a third of his body when the Humvee on the Helmand hit a road sailing on a fuel tank.
He was appointed Executive Director of Memorial Matters by President Donald Trump. This will maintain the cemetery and promote burials for veterans. This amounts to approximately 100,000 people per year.
R-Kan. Senate President Jerry Moran and ranking member Sen. Richard Blumental, D-Conn. , and letters from a group of about 20 veterans addressed to Caucus leaders were obtained Friday by Fox News Digital.
Doug Collins, left, Sam Brown, right (Getty)
The group respects the Senate's advice and honest role, but notes that it opposes the current situation. They note that VAs have the least presidential nomination positions, and candidates from other agencies may receive overnight and weekend considerations.
“Of course, I am pleased to bring Senator coffee and donuts during these late-night and weekend sessions, in accordance with Senate rules of gifts and ethics,” the group wrote.
Brown and all other candidates since April are supported by D-Ariz's Blumenthal and Senator Ruben Gallego. – But lawmakers say their moves aren't personal and instead aim to stop mass shootings and other Trump-era actions.
Sen. Angus King has shown that Brown's confirmation hearing, Lt. Col. James Baere and VA CFO Army veteran Richard Topping will join the two Democrats after being mooted by a procedural hold in April.
“We've had 2,400 shootings so far,” King said according to Stars & Stripe.
American Vietnam Veterans requested that Brown, Baehr and Topping be confirmed immediately in another letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
“All three of these veterans received positive reports from the Senate Veterans Committee following the April 9 nomination process,” wrote VVA President Jack McManus.
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Kansas Senate President Jerry Moran (Getty)
McManus said many Vietnamese veterinarians are concerned about hold-up, and Brown and other veterinarians agree that they are denounced “two members of the U.S. Senate Veterans Committee” for “impacting services to veterans.”
Another letter from the Independent Fund, which provides resources, including truck chairs, told seriously injured veterans that a fully staffed VA central office is essential to its mission.
Last week, when Moran tried to confirm Brown again by unanimous consent (audio votes where there must be no audible objections), Blumental blocked him.
“The Chair and I share a bipartisan commitment to bringing veterans first. …I think we also share our respect for his service to our country as a decorated veteran,” says Blumenthal.
His own service, criticised by Trump under the nickname “Danang Dick,” after the Vietnamese province, said Brown's nomination lacked unanimous support in the committee, citing 10-9 votes.
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“This issue is bigger than Sam Brown. It concerns information that has been rejected by us as a committee and Senator. The VA secretary is actively working to undermine our bipartisan oversight efforts.
Blumenthal told Fox News Digital that he sent a message to Collins.
“Committee Doug Collins denied the essential information needed to monitor us and wants accountability. All Americans, especially veterans, deserve a vote by all senators of top candidates, rather than unanimous consent,” he said, he could ask Collins to ask candidates to be put on the floor through regular orders.
In a comment on Fox News Digital, Collins rejected Blumenthal's claims and denounced the delay.
“Imagine how better American veterans would be if Senator Blumenthal and Gallego were concerned about fixing the department's broken bureaucracy, just as they would prevent injured combat veterans from working in the VA,” he said.
“Despite their obstacles, we will reform the department to make it better for veterans, families, caregivers and survivors.”
Gallego also said he is not personally opposed to brown and instead seeks accountability from the agency. A recent statement said he wanted to reverse “Hackjob firing.”
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On Tuesday night, a primary was held to fill the seats by Rep. Reuben Gallego at the end of the year. (Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Gallego said Collins “is more interested in three political appointees than the thousands of veterans who lose their jobs and care.”
“I served this country and I've been cared for at the VA. I know how important it is to veterans. It's reckless and unAmerican to abandon them, as Secretary Collins would like to do.
In Arizona in Gallego, Phoenix VA Hospital has given up 800 employees, and a 2024 inspector general report found the site already faces a lack of staffing.
Recent research into Iraq and Afghanistan veterans shows growing concern that VA cuts could have an impact on profits and healthcare.
Fox News reached out to King for comment for the purposes of this story.
