Congressional Testimony
Congressional Testimony
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Disabled American Veterans Deputy National Legislative Director Retzer Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Jon Retzer, deputy national legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?":* * *
Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal and members of the Committee:
Thank you for inviting DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to testify today about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation program, its vital role in supporting veterans, their families and survivors, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Jon Retzer, deputy national legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?": * * * Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal and members of the Committee: Thank you for inviting DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to testify today about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation program, its vital role in supporting veterans, their families and survivors,as well as the challenges VA faces in providing timely and accurate decisions on veterans claims for these and other benefits.
As you know, DAV is a congressionally chartered, VA-accredited, nonprofit veterans service organization (VSO) with nearly a million members, all of whom are wartime service-disabled veterans. We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. To fulfill our service mission assisting veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors seeking benefits earned as a result of their military service, DAV has over 4,200 chapter, department, transition and national service officers (NSO) nationwide; including DAV accredited county veterans service officers.
There are over 1.1 million veterans and their survivors who have chosen DAV to be their representative before the VA, more than any other organization. Last year, we helped veterans file over 560,000 claims for benefits to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), taking over 3.1 million actions to support them. This assistance, like all of DAV's charitable services, was provided at no charge to veterans and their families, and DAV receives no compensation of any kind from the government for providing these services.
Drawing on the collective experience and expertise of our benefits experts, I am pleased to have the opportunity to share our observations and recommendations to improve the VA disability compensation processing system; however, we feel it necessary to first set the record straight on the outrageously misleading and highly inaccurate stories that The Washington Post recently published.
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Setting the Record Straight on The Washington Post Story
Mr. Chairman, DAV was shocked and disgusted to read the Post article alleging that disabled veterans are "swamping" the VA with "false", "fraudulent" and "dubious" disability claims for injuries and illnesses that the Post considers illegitimate. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and the Post should be ashamed of publishing such an inaccurate and distorted piece.
For example, the Post argues that disabled veterans are, "...swamping the U.S. government with dubious disability claims..." when, in fact, according to the VA Office of Inspector General, there have been fewer than 200 fraud convictions annually in recent years. With VBA processing almost 3 million claims in the most recent fiscal year, that equates to a fraud rate of less than 1/100th of 1%. We certainly acknowledge that there are other cases of fraud that have not yet or may never be caught, and we hope that every one of those individuals involved, many of whom are not veterans, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
However, in order to justify their conclusion that VA is "swamped" with illegitimate claims, the Post dishonestly combines cases of "fraud" with what they allege are "exaggeration" and "dubious" claims for disability compensation. By categorizing a number of disability claims as "dubious", the Post seeks to delegitimize numerous conditions that can be quite serious, including eczema, tinnitus, pain, hypertension, diabetes, depression and other mental health conditions, each of which Congress and/or VA have determined can result from military service. The Post appears to have no understanding of what veterans with chronic and severe cases of tinnitus, eczema, pain and other so-called minor conditions have to overcome, not just to work, but to lead as normal a life as possible. Nor do they seem aware that hypertension and diabetes have been scientifically and medically linked to toxic hazards, such as Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide that millions of veterans were exposed to in Vietnam. Perhaps most shocking was the Post's references to depression and other mental health conditions - even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - as among those they consider "exaggeration" and "dubious" conditions.
Without citing data or other objective evidence, the Post also asserts that "Congress and VA have made it easier to cheat and take advantage of the system." The story points to the enactment of legislation such as the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-168) and the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) (P.L. 115-55), two landmark laws purposely designed by Congress to make it easier for veterans to receive earned benefits that have too often been delayed or denied in the past. It is a gross mischaracterization to imply that these laws make it easier for criminals to steal taxpayer dollars, rather than recognize how they have fundamentally improved the ability of millions of veterans to receive justice and due process.
One of the most important but often overlooked strengths of the current VA disability compensation system is that disabled veterans are incentivized to continually improve their health and well-being in order to pursue meaningful employment and entrepreneurship. The Post apparently believes that even severely disabled veterans - those who have lost limbs, are blind or paralyzed - only merit disability compensation when they are unable to work. The Post fails to recognize all the time and effort it may take for these men and women to overcome such disabilities, the impact on the families and the other parts of their lives, including how it often shortens their lives.
The Post displays a stunning ignorance about how the VA benefits system actually works by referencing it as an "honor system" that they argue is ripe for fraud. Clearly, the Post does not understand what is required under current laws and regulations to establish direct service connection for a disability, a prerequisite for veterans to receive disability compensation. First, there must be verified evidence of a current VA-recognized disability, typically from a medical diagnosis. Second, there must be sufficient evidence of an in-service incident or exposure that could have caused or aggravated the disability, such as a toxic exposure, military accident or combat wound. Third, there must be authoritative evidence of a nexus between the current disability and the incident or exposure, usually established by a competent medical opinion. Contrary to what the Post implies, VA does not just "take the veterans word"; instead, in most circumstances, veterans must have sufficient evidence on all three points, which most of the people here today have probably heard many times before, can be a complicated and time-consuming process.
However, in order to support its preordained conclusions, the Post ignores how VA normally adjudicates claims for direct service connection and instead focuses on certain exceptions that have different rules due to some unique circumstances that occur during military service. For example, veterans who have mental health issues arising from military sexual trauma (MST) often have great difficulty assembling evidence that such incidents occurred. This is particularly true for veterans who don't come to grips with the devastating impact of that trauma until many years later. Too often, MST survivors don't document what occurred while on active duty due to the stigma associated with sexual assault or sometimes out of fear of reprisal from the perpetrators or others in the military chain of command. For these reasons, MST claims recognize victim statements or contemporaneous markers in the veteran's medical records that are consistent with MST as sufficient evidence of the incident.
Another significant category of claims that sometimes have special rules are related to diseases and conditions caused by military toxic exposures and environmental hazards, an issue that Congress and successive Administrations have placed greater focus on in recent years, culminating with the passage of the PACT Act in 2022. Over the past three decades, radiation, Agent Orange, burn pits and other toxins and hazards have been increasingly linked by scientific and medical studies to a range of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancers and respiratory conditions. However, many of these harmful health impacts don't manifest until years or decades after veterans were exposed, making it exceedingly difficult for a veteran to produce proof that they were exposed to a specific toxin or chemical at a specific time and location, particularly for those deployed in combat zones.
To address these types of evidentiary challenges, Congress and VA created an alternate mechanism - known as presumptive service connection - to provide justice to groups of veterans injured by toxic exposures. For example, it would be virtually impossible to know exact locations and times where Agent Orange was used in Vietnam and other southeast Asia locations, much less exactly how wind patterns dispersed it, just as it would not be feasible to prove the exact location of every service member in country during those years. However, there is more than adequate proof that Agent Orange exposure was widespread enough to reasonably conclude that it makes sense to concede, or "presume," that every veteran who served in Vietnam during those years Agent Orange was used was exposed to it.
For these reasons, Congress approved the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-4), which created a presumption of service connection for diseases and conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure. This not an "honor system" but a fact-based policy determination that provides veterans with the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, the Post's belief that diseases like diabetes and hypertension should never be linked to military because civilians also get those diseases discounts decades worth of studies documenting both statistical association and causal relationship.
Mr. Chairman, these are just some of the most outrageous misrepresentations put out by the Post in recent weeks, and we would be more than willing to address any other issues that the Committee or Senators would like us to address.
In our view, this story was neither investigative news reporting nor analysis - it was a longform editorial developed from a preconceived conclusion that they then tried to support with a series of misleading and conflated statistics, anecdotal quotes transformed into generalizations, unsupported assertions and a near total misunderstanding about the history, purpose and functioning of the VA disability compensation system.
However, while we greatly appreciate this opportunity to set the record straight on the misrepresentation of reality published by The Washington Post, we are more interested in sharing our perspectives and recommendations on how to strengthen the VA claims process that millions of veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors rely on.
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Improving VA's Claims Processing System for Disabled Veterans
Almost two decades ago, after Congress created the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission to explore whether major changes were needed to VA's benefit programs, one of my DAV predecessors testified that the disability compensation system was:
"...fundamentally sound and the most practical approach to the complex task of fairly compensating a large number of veterans for whom the effect of disability is as diverse as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the members of the military force and the citizens of our nation from which those members come."/1
DAV continues to believe that is true in terms of the purpose and structure of VA disability compensation benefits; however, we also believe that Congress and VA must continue to reform and improve the processes used to adjudicate veterans' claims for benefits to ensure they receive the most accurate and timely decisions possible. Accordingly, we make the following recommendations.
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Ensure VA has the resources to ensure accuracy and timeliness of claims
Since the enactment of the PACT Act in August 2022, VBA has seen a tremendous influx of new claims for benefits related to toxic exposures. This increase comes on top of numerous efforts by VA to expand outreach to veterans over the past decade, often focused on connecting with veterans in crisis or at risk of suicide. As a result, the backlog of claims pending more than the standard of 125 days rose significantly in recent years. When the PACT Act was signed into law, the backlog was just over 150,000 claims. It steadily rose over the next year and a half to a peak of over 400,000 backlogged claims in January 2024, before it began to drop as VBA increased staffing and other resources significantly, falling to about 250,000 in January 2025, and it is now down to 135,000 as result of all the new employees being fully trained and more productive.
However, given the long history of VBA backlogs, we must never be complacent. Earlier this year, DAV and our partners in The Independent Budget (Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars) recommended that funding for VBA claims processing in FY 2026 be increased by at least $300 million to support additional overtime and enhanced mail processing capabilities. We are aware that VBA has required mandatory overtime for claims processers to increase production this year; however, we are concerned if VBA's staffing levels end up being reduced by the attrition and voluntary retirements VA announced earlier this year, they could drop below the level needed to maintain the record levels of production in each of the past three years. The use of mandatory overtime is an important tool VBA can use to increase production for limited durations, but if overused it can lead to employee burnout and lower accuracy in claims decisions. We urge the Committee to closely monitor staffing levels at VBA, particularly how they have been affected by VA's announced 30,000 FTE force reduction, to ensure there are adequate resources to process veterans claims quickly and accurately.
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1 Testimony of Rick Surratt, DAV Deputy National Legislative Director, before the Committee on Medical Evaluation of Veterans for Disability Compensation of the Institute of Medicine, July 7, 2006.
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Simplify procedures for veterans filing benefit claims
Over the past decade, there have been a number of statutory and regulatory changes enacted to streamline various aspects of the VA claims processing and appeals systems, including the landmark Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA), which DAV and other VSOs worked closely with Congress and VA to develop and enact. We believe the AMA has largely been successful; however, there remain a number of implementation decisions by VBA that have made the claims filing process more difficult for veterans and sometimes threatens their ability to receive the benefits they are due. Below are several changes DAV recommends to improve the process for veterans.
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Veterans should be able to file claims by phone
The AMA requires veterans to file claims only with specific VA forms, which includes the ability to file an Intent To File (ITF) form to guarantee the earliest effective date for a claim. VA allows a veteran to submit an ITF by phone, but not a formal claim, such as for an increased evaluation or secondary condition. Before enactment of AMA, nearly all claims for benefits could be filed by phone, with the exception of an initial claim, which required some version of the VA Form 21-526EZ.
We believe a veteran should be able to contact the VA by phone and file a claim for any condition at any time by verbalizing to the VA the necessary information, just as they can for an ITF. There is no substantive reason why VA cannot accept claims verbally over the phone.
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End VA's requirement that claims will only be accepted using specific forms
Currently, the VA treats claims filed on an "incorrect form" merely as a request for a claims application. If and when the correct application is subsequently received at VA, the effective date of the claim and benefit payment ends up being is later than the receipt of the previously submitted "incorrect form." If a favorable decision is ultimately rendered, the monetary amount is likely to be less as a result of the delayed effective date. Furthermore, in the current process, if an ITF is of record and if an "incorrect form" is later received, the ITF could be associated with the "incorrect form," and what might be a much earlier effective date could be lost.
To remedy this situation, VA should accept any filing made by a veteran for benefits as a clear statement of the veteran's "Intent To File" a claim and protect that effective date. Further, VBA should require that claims processors infer that the claimant intends to have filed the type of claim that provides the greatest benefit under the law using the concept of reasonable doubt in 38 C.F.R. Sec.Sec. 3.102 and 4.3. Accordingly, whether a claim was submitted on a VA Form 21-526EZ or a VA Form 20-0995, claims processors should construe the claim in a manner that maximizes the veteran's benefits.
While we are aware of VA's interest in maximizing efficiency in its claims processing system, that should not come at the expense of veterans losing part of their earned benefits. As will be discussed below, we believe that the use of advance technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) may ultimately be able to bridge this gap, but until such time, VA's rules should favor the interests of the veteran over bureaucratic efficiency.
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Claimants should not be required to identify benefit sought
Another requirement that often delays benefits to veterans is the requirement that they must specifically identity the benefit (or benefits) sought. On Form 21-0966, Section III, block 19, requires the claimant to check a block for "all that apply," and then lists Compensation, Pension, Survivors Pension and/or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) as options. This can become a problem in certain situations, such as when veteran applies for disability compensation, but only qualifies for nonservice-connected pension. In this situation, after they are denied disability compensation, they must reapply for pension benefits; however, due to the block 19 requirement, the VA will not protect the earliest effective date unless they checked both boxes. We believe that the requirement to identify the general benefit under 38 C.F.R. Sec. 3.155(b)(2) should be removed.
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Optimize the use of technology, particularly AI technologies
In order to efficiently improve both productivity and accuracy, VBA must continue to maximize and optimize the use of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence. In particular, VBA should invest in new document digitization and data mining systems that will allow it to receive benefit applications and evidence from veterans and can then transform that data so it can be used in any format necessary to process and adjudicate claims and appeals. When VA reaches this level of automation, many of the procedural barriers discussed above about VA forms and requirements will become moot in terms of administrative efficiency, making it easier for veterans to more quickly receive their full benefits.
However, we caution that VBA needs to prudently explore and utilize advanced AI to support rating decision-making and notifications to veterans. AI can play a significant role both increasing speed and reducing errors, but only if it is properly implemented and monitored. Therefore, it is critical that VBA develop procedures and guardrails, most importantly related to training and quality control programs that can systematically ensure that essential organizational knowledge and expertise is preserved. AI and other advanced information technologies must always serve the purpose and people inside VBA, not become a replacement for either.
Finally, VBA must continue to develop and prioritize new IT systems to support VSO partners to efficiently file claims and appeals online. Earlier this year in September, without consulting DAV or other major accredited VSOs, VBA announced the imminent launch of a new IT system for use by VSOs - the Accredited Representative Portal (ARP) - which would replace the Stakeholder Enterprise Portal (SEP) that many VSOs, including DAV, have successfully used for years. Unfortunately, once we became aware of the new ARP system, we quickly discovered that, as currently designed, it would not effectively integrate with our internal systems and operations that assist veterans in filing claims and appeals for VA benefits. We have had some initial conversations with VA IT staff about these problems but remain concerned that the planned phasing-out of SEP by the end of 2025 will negatively impact the ability of DAV and other accredited VSOs to support veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors we collectively represent.
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Continue to strengthen presumptive decision-making processes for toxic and environmental exposure claims
Another way to improve the process and outcomes for veterans filing benefit claims, one that will also make VA more efficient, is to strengthen presumptive decision-making processes for claims arising from military toxic exposures and environmental hazards. Enactment of the PACT Act was truly a generational victory for veterans who have to wait for decades to receive benefits related to diseases and conditions caused by burn pits and other toxic exposures. Last September, together with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), we released a groundbreaking report: Ending the Wait for Toxic-Exposed Veterans, A post-PACT Act blueprint for reforming the VA presumptive process. Our research found that on average, it takes over 30 years from the first time a dangerous military toxic exposure is first encountered by service members until Congress or VA creates a presumptive condition to fully recognize and compensate veterans for illnesses and disabilities related to that exposure. Among the most well-known examples of presumptives are for Atomic Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation; Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange; and Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans exposed to myriad toxins from burn pits.
The expanded use of presumptives to overcome evidentiary gaps associated with toxic exposures not only benefits veterans who have been forced to wait far too long for justice; it uses VBA resources more efficiently by consolidating certain evidentiary decisions for cohorts of veterans defined by the time and location of their service, as well as common toxic exposures that have been scientifically linked with certain diseases and illnesses. While the PACT Act was a historic victory for veterans, it did not include all toxic substances that veterans have been exposed to, nor does it cover all future exposures and hazards that service members may encounter. For those reasons, DAV and MOAA produced the Ending the Wait report, which includes a number of recommendations to create a more effective presumptive decision-making process. The report contains several other critical recommendations to ensure toxic-exposed veterans don't have to wait decades for justice, which include: expanding federal research on toxic exposures; creating an independent scientific review process for diseases caused by toxic exposures; and establishing a veterans' stakeholder advisory commission to strengthen oversight and transparency of the VA presumptive-making process.
Mr. Chairman, we are truly grateful for the work that you and others on the Committee did to pass the PACT Act; however, there is still more work to be done. Working together we can build upon the foundation created by the PACT Act by implementing the recommendations in our report, which we believe will not only help end the wait for toxic-exposed veterans but also make the VA claims processing system fairer, faster and more efficient.
This concludes my testimony, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you or members of the Committee may have.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/2DC635E4-9E59-474C-AC62-6899A3A993A4
VA IG Mason Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Veterans Affairs Inspector General Cheryl Mason from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?":* * *
Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the role of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud in the compensation and pension programs administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). As the Inspector General, I am proud of the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Veterans Affairs Inspector General Cheryl Mason from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?": * * * Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the role of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud in the compensation and pension programs administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). As the Inspector General, I am proud of theOIG's work conducting independent oversight of VBA's programs and operations and investigating allegations of fraud within its programs.
As of June 30, 2025, more than 6.9 million veterans and beneficiaries were receiving these benefits, as provided under the law pertaining to disability compensation./1
The OIG directorates provide information based on their work to ensure thorough oversight of VA's programs and operations./2
This statement highlights the work of OIG staff across the Office of Investigations (OI) and the Office of Audit and Evaluations (OAE). Specifically, this statement discusses our investigative program, including information advising VA and the public of scams, and weaknesses identified in program operations.
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OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS ACTIVITIES
OI is responsible for investigating potential criminal activity and civil violations of law including fraud related to VA benefits, construction, education, procurement, and health care, as well as drug offenses, crimes of violence, threats against VA employees or facilities, and cyberthreats to VA information systems. OI coordinates with other OIG directorates, external law enforcement partners, and the Department of Justice on high-impact cases to ensure that veterans, VA employees, and VA assets are protected, and wrongdoers are held accountable. (See Appendix A for some examples of OIG cases.)
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1 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1110; 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1131; 38 C.F.R. Sec. 3.303 (2024). VA, "VA Benefits & Health Care Utilization," https://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/pocketcards/pocketcard.pdf, accessed October 20, 2025.
2 The OIG has five main directorates: Immediate Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Office of Audits and Evaluations; Office of Healthcare Inspections; and Office of Management and Administration.
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VBA implements a number of programs for eligible veterans and family members, including monetary benefits, education assistance, insurance, and VA-guaranteed home loans. Education investigations target fraudsters who do not deliver promised services to eligible veterans, service members, and their qualified family members. With respect to home loans, agents focus on loan origination fraud, equity skimming, and criminal conduct related to the management of foreclosed loans or properties. Personnel also investigate allegations of crimes committed by VA-appointed fiduciaries and caregivers.
In January 2022, the OIG began to publish fraud alerts regarding scams that are prevalent in OI's work. The most recent addresses-Protect Veterans from Pension Poaching (June 2025). (See Appendix B.)
In the last Congress, OIG staff assisted Congress in tightening VBA's public disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) with the inclusion of a provision in the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, enacted on January 2, 2025, that requires the digitization of all disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) submitted by non-VA healthcare providers./3
The electronic capture of all future DBQ data will significantly enhance OI's anti-fraud oversight of this program.
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OFFICE OF AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS REVIEWS OF VBA PROCESSES
The exchange of information between OIG directorates is critical to safeguarding VA's programs and operations. The OIG's OAE shares information with the Office of Investigations that is found during the course of their work and OI reports information on gaps discovered through their investigations. This allows the OIG to provide oversight of VBA operations and made recommendations related to legal and procedural review deficiencies, unclear guidance, and inconsistent application of quality assessments, issues that can make the disability benefit system susceptible to fraud.
When veterans file claims for disability benefits, medical evidence is usually needed to demonstrate a condition. Often VBA will schedule a veteran for a medical examination. Most exams are performed by VBA contract medical examiners, but veterans have the option of having their medical provider complete a public-facing DBQs which would be submitted with their claim.
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Public-Facing Disability Benefits Questionnaires Can Increase Fraud Risk
In October 2010, VBA implemented the use of DBQ forms to help speed the processing of veterans' claims for disability compensation and pension benefits. The questionnaires cover a full range of medical conditions and relate to a specific type of disability or part of the body. Publicly available questionnaires are completed by non-VA medical providers selected by the veteran. As a result of OIG concerns related to the potential for fraud and VBA's modernization efforts and form revisions, on April 2, 2020, VBA removed the questionnaires from its website. Subsequently, Congress mandated their return through The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, enacted on January 5, 2021./4
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3 Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 118-210 (2025).
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The OIG conducted two reviews as required by the law. In the March 2022 report, the OIG determined that VBA complied with the requirement to return DBQs to its public-facing website when it reinstated 69 questionnaires on its website on March 1, 2021./5
However, the team found DBQ from non-VA medical providers that were incomplete, inaccurate, or of questionable authenticity were not always processed correctly by VBA when determining entitlement to benefits. Conversely, some questionnaires that were sufficient for determining benefits were not used.
The January 2024 report found VBA continues to publish updated questionnaires on its website and generally accepted and used them when submitted as part of a claim for benefits./6
However, the OIG review team found that many submitted public questionnaires continue to present a significant risk of fraud. While VBA conducts validation reviews to detect and prevent fraud, these reviews are very limited in scope, lack robust methodology and follow-up, and do not safeguard against any physician-assisted fraud.
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Improvements Needed In VBA Claims Processing
VBA's Medical Disability Examination Office administers VBA's contract medical exam program. VBA currently has 18 contracts with four vendors: OptumServe Health Services, Quality Timeliness and Customer Service Medical Services, Veterans Evaluations Services Inc., and Loyal Source Government Services, LLC. This office is responsible for overseeing vendor performance and contract medical disability exam quality as well as enforcing the technical terms of each contract. Over the last three years, OIG teams assessed this office on several occasions and found weaknesses in governance, accountability, and contractor accessibility compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, and safety and cleanliness issues./7
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Compensation Claims Processing Deficiencies
The medical exam is just the first step in the process to determine a compensation rating. Claims processors are responsible for reviewing all available evidence when determining entitlement to benefits. OIG reports have identified scattered, unclear, and underdeveloped guidance--with little reliance on the law--as additional causes for incorrect payments to VBA beneficiaries.
The OIG substantiated a hotline allegation that a senior veterans service representative in Philadelphia approved hundreds of rating decisions for claims each day without conducting the required reviews. In fiscal years 2022 through 2024, this employee authorized about 85,300 claims--19 times the national average--and contributed more than 35 percent each year toward the regional office's claims completion goal./8
The team estimated that about 13,200 of the rating decisions (84 percent) authorized by this employee from January through June 2024 had at least one error. These errors resulted in an estimated $2.2 million in improper payments. VBA officials at the regional, district, and central offices knew about the employee's unusually high authorization rate. However, they did not effectively respond to the associated risks. VA concurred with the OIG's two recommendations to correct the errors and evaluate internal controls./9
Some recent reports related to PACT Act claims illustrate the importance of claims processors being trained properly and following procedures./10
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4 Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-315 (2021).
5 VA OIG, Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires Reinstated but Controls Could Be Strengthened, March 9, 2022.
6 VA OIG, Without Effective Controls, Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires Continue to Pose a Significant Risk of Fraud to VA, January 4, 2024.
7 VA OIG, Contract Medical Exam Program Limitations Put Veterans at Risk for Inaccurate Claims Decisions, June 8, 2022; VA OIG, Better Oversight Needed of Accessibility, Safety, and Cleanliness at Contract Facilities Offering VA Disability Exams, May 8, 2024.
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In August 2022, the PACT Act was signed into law and significantly expanded access to VA health care and disability benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic materials. It also expanded locations associated with radiation exposure, as well as presumptive conditions and locations associated with herbicide exposure. The day after the PACT Act was signed into law, veterans set a record for the number of online disability compensation claims filed./11
The OIG found that claims processors may not be assigning accurate effective dates for claims due to VBA not sufficiently preparing them for this undertaking./12
The PACT Act complicated VBA's effective date determinations by adding locations, dates, and conditions presumed to be associated with certain types of exposures during military service, as well as lowering requirements for benefit eligibility for some veterans exposed to toxins.
In a September 2025 report, the OIG found VBA's oversight lagged in ensuring accurate processing of nonpresumptive conditions under the PACT Act./13
While VBA took steps to improve PACT Act Claims processing, these efforts have not remedied the problem of various inaccuracies related to nonpresumptive conditions. The OIG found some errors showed that claims processors did not accurately identify toxic exposure claims, research and verify veterans' participation in a toxic exposure risk activity, request a medical exam and opinion regarding toxic exposure or appropriately include key information in decisions for nonpresumptive conditions. Furthermore, PACT Act guidance is difficult for staff to navigate because it is frequently updated and spread among several different sources. VBA needs to improve its oversight to mitigate and prevent inconsistencies and errors. VBA concurred with the OIG's three recommendations to correct processing errors, consolidate guidance, and evaluate controls./14
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8 VA OIG, Inadequate Oversight Allowed a Senior Benefits Representative to Inaccurately Authorize Thousands of Decisions, September 29, 2025.
9 At quarterly intervals commencing 90 calendar days from the date of the report's issuance, the OIG sends a follow-up request to the VA office overseeing corrective action asking for an implementation status report. The OIG will begin follow up on this report on December 29, 2025. Nothing precludes VA from providing interim progress reports.
10 The PACT Act refers to the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-168, 136 Stat. 1759.
11 VBA, "Fact Sheet: How the PACT Act Is Already Helping Veterans", accessed October 20, 2023, https://vbaw.vba.va.gov/bl/21/PACT%20Act%20General%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf.
12 VA OIG, The PACT Act Has Complicated Determining When Veterans' Benefits Payments Should Take Effect, April 15, 2025.
13 VA OIG, Better Controls Needed to Accurately Determine Decisions for Veterans' Nonpresumptive Conditions Involving Toxic Exposure Under the PACT Act, September 30, 2025.
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CONCLUSION
The VA OIG staff are astutely aware that taxpayer dollars were appropriated to VA for the purpose of providing benefits and services to our veterans. We have an accomplished team working collaboratively across the organization to ensure that veterans who have earned their benefits receive them and people who defraud VA programs are held accountable. If OIG staff discover, during the course of audit or inspection work, evidence of fraud, they immediately share with OIG investigators. Conversely, when OIG investigators identify weaknesses in the system through their investigations, they provide that information to the audit staff for further review. We, at the OIG, are dedicated to reviewing the operations and programs that provide these critical benefits and services in a timely and accurate manner to those who have served our nation. As the Inspector General, I am committed to ensuring VA programs and operations are efficient and effective in delivering benefits to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Members, and committee Members, this concludes my statement, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.14 At quarterly intervals commencing 90 calendar days from the date of the report's issuance, the OIG sends a follow-up request to the VA office overseeing corrective action asking for an implementation status report. The OIG will begin follow up on this report on December 30, 2025. Nothing precludes VA from providing interim progress reports.
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APPENDIX A SELECTED CASES FROM THE OIG'S OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS
Veterans Benefits Administration Investigations
* Former VA Social Worker Claiming to Be A Purple Heart and Bronze Star Recipient Sentenced for Stolen Valor Scheme That Included Stealing a Veteran's Identity to Gain Benefits - A former social worker at the Providence VA Medical Center in Rhode Island fraudulently claimed to be a wounded US Marine Corps veteran who was the recipient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. The defendant collected more than $250,000 in benefits from veteran-focused charities using the personally identifiable information of an actual Marine to falsely claim she served in the Marine Corps from 2009 to 2016, achieved the rank of corporal, was wounded in action, and was honorably discharged. The defendant also falsely claimed to have cancer due to her alleged military service after using her position to access the VA medical records of a veteran cancer patient. The former social worker was sentenced in the District of Rhode Island to 70 months' imprisonment, three years' supervised release, and full restitution of close to $285,000 to the charities and individual victims. This investigation was conducted by the VA OIG, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), NCIS, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, US Postal Inspection Service, and VA Police Service.
* School Owner Sentenced for Defrauding VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill Program - A VA OIG investigation resulted in charges alleging the owner of a non-college-degree school and its certifying official conspired to submit fraudulent information to conceal the entity's noncompliance with the rules and regulations of the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program. In response to an inspector general subpoena, the owner and certifying official allegedly conspired to provide fraudulent information, including falsified contracts and rosters. Between September 2012 and August 2018, VA paid over $17.8 million to the school. The owner was sentenced in the District of New Hampshire to 12 months' home detention and 36 months' probation and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $200,000 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to make false statements. The certifying official was previously indicted on charges of conspiracy to submit false claims and conspiracy to make false statements.
* Two Real Estate Agents Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Clients in Short Sale Fraud Scheme - According to a multiagency investigation, two real estate agents conspired with others to defraud VA, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, banks, and mortgage servicers through multiple fraud schemes, including acting as brokers in the sale of distressed residential real estate (bank-owned properties listed for sale by a real estate firm, through an agreement with a given financial institution) while secretly using straw buyers to purchase those properties, which they subsequently "flipped." The scheme involved over 100 properties, of which at least 10 were covered by VA's loan guaranty program. One of the real estate agents was sentenced in the District of Massachusetts to 42 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, over $2.5 million in restitution, and forfeiture of approximately $612,000. Of the restitution, VA will receive over $171,000. The other real estate agent had been previously sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and 24 months of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit over $277,000 and pay restitution that will be determined on a later date. This investigation was conducted by the VA OIG, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and FBI.
* Four Individuals Connected to a House of Prayer Affiliate Indicted in Connection With Education Benefits Fraud Scheme - A multiagency investigation resulted in charges alleging that from at least 2011 through 2022, four leaders of Georgia affiliates of the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America conspired to defraud VA and veterans of millions of dollars in education benefits. According to the indictment, these leaders fraudulently obtained a religious exemption from state regulators in Georgia to operate two of five locations in Georgia as the affiliate called the House of Prayer Bible Seminary (HOPBS). This exemption required that Georgia seminaries not receive federal funds. Yet the four defendants applied for and accepted VA education benefits, making the seminary ineligible for the exemption. The defendants recruited military personnel to the church, directed them to enroll in HOPBS, and then used VA benefits for personal gain. HOPBS received more than $3 million in education benefits for its two Georgia locations and more than $23.5 million for all five locations. From 2013 through 2021, the four leaders fraudulently submitted false certifications to Georgia regulators that claimed the seminary did not receive federal funds. The scheme channeled funding from VA education benefits to seminary accounts, which the defendants in turn siphoned off for their own use. The impact was that some veterans' benefits were exhausted, often without completing their programs. The four defendants were indicted in the Southern District of Georgia on multiple criminal charges. Two of the four defendants, along with two additional individuals, were also indicted in connection with a long-running mortgage fraud conspiracy that was partially tied to VA home loans. In total, eight defendants were indicted for both the education and mortgage fraud schemes. This investigation was conducted by the VA OIG, FBI, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Federal Housing Finance Authority OIG, Army Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
* Nonveteran Sentenced for Stealing More Than $450,000 in VA Compensation Benefits from Disabled Veteran - According to an investigation conducted by the VA OIG, Social Security Administration OIG, and US Postal Inspection Service, a nonveteran deposited into his personal bank account at least four stolen VA disability checks that were intended for a hospital-bound veteran who had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). After the bank refused to deposit the checks due to a name mismatch, the individual and a co-conspirator used stolen identity documents to open another bank account in the victim's name and then successfully made the deposits. Between 2015 and 2020, the individual and his coconspirator stole approximately $460,000 in VA disability benefits checks intended for the veteran. The individual was sentenced in the District of Massachusetts to 23 months' imprisonment, 24 months' probation, and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $460,000 after previously pleading guilty to theft of government benefits and conspiracy to steal government benefits.
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Veterans Health Administration Investigations
OI conducts criminal investigations into allegations of patient abuse, drug diversion, theft of VA pharmaceuticals or medical equipment, false claims for healthcare benefits, and other fraud relating to the delivery of health care of millions of veterans. Here are some selected cases: - Four Defendants Plead Guilty to Roles in $110 Million Healthcare Kickback Scheme - The former owner of a home health company, a physician, a pharmacy marketer, and a registered nurse pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks. A multiagency investigation revealed the defendants conspired to fraudulently bill federal and private healthcare insurance programs over $110 million for expensive compounded medication in exchange for more than $6 million in kickbacks. The loss to VA is over $2.8 million. This investigation was conducted by the VA OIG, FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Health and Human Services OIG, US Postal Service OIG, Department of Labor OIG, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
* Former VA Inventory Management Specialist Admitted to Stealing Dental Equipment - A VA OIG and VA Police Service investigation revealed that an inventory specialist at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Tennessee stole dental equipment from the facility and subsequently sold it online. The loss to VA for the stolen dental equipment, which was intended for a new clinic in Knoxville, is over $353,000. The former VA employee pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Tennessee to theft of government property.
* Former VA Physician Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting A Patient - A VA OIG investigation resulted in charges alleging that between September 2019 and January 2020, a former physician at the Atlanta VA Medical Center sexually assaulted four female patients during medical examinations involving improper touching. The former physician was found guilty by a jury in the Northern District of Georgia of deprivation of rights under color of law and abusive sexual contact after a two-week trial. The jury found the physician guilty of charges related to one victim and acquitted him of charges pertaining to the other three victims. He was sentenced in the Northern District of Georgia to 24 months' imprisonment and 15 years' supervised release and prohibited from practicing medicine while on supervised release.
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APPENDIX B - FRAUD ALERTS
Protect Veterans from Pension Poaching
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) cautions veterans to be alert to a form of financial exploitation known as "pension poaching." VA pension benefits are available to wartime veterans or their surviving spouses who meet certain age or disability requirements and have limited income and net worth. Veterans are targets of a wide range of pension-poaching schemes, all of which attempt to steal their assets. Frequently, scammers promote suspect legal or financial products or services that are designed to qualify otherwise ineligible individuals for a VA pension, either by falsifying financial information or restructuring assets to meet criteria. Others may charge large fees to represent unsuspecting veterans in pursuing pension benefits for which they may not qualify. Some may also try to sell in-home care to eligible pension recipients that may be overpriced or is never provided. Scams often start with a dishonest lawyer, financial planner, or insurance agent soliciting veterans through cold calls, mail campaigns, or in-person encounters at a senior center or assisted living facility.
Steer clear of and report to the OIG individuals and organizations that
* claim to guarantee eligibility for a particular benefit;
* encourage false reporting of income and expense information, reallocating assets to trusts, or purchasing annuities to qualify for a VA pension;
* charge upfront fees or a percentage of any awarded benefit to file VA claims or applications (free help is available from VA-accredited individuals and entities);
* apply pressure to provide sensitive financial information like credit card numbers; or
* attempt to redirect VA deposits to a bank account controlled by a caregiver, power of attorney, claim representative, or anyone other than the rightful beneficiary.
* Find accredited representatives authorized to help veterans and their dependents and survivors with VA benefits claims. Note: If someone isn't recognized by VA, they can't legally help with a VA benefit claim.
* Veterans can also receive assistance from their state's veterans office or the Federal Trade Commission.
* VA fact sheet on pension poaching prevention
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/A6C6DD34-EAD0-4528-AE46-67FAB40AF8FD
Paralyzed Veterans Associate Legislative Director Villanueva Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Jeremy Villanueva, associate legislative director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?":* * *
Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today on behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) about the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability benefits system. For nearly 80 years, PVA has been the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Jeremy Villanueva, associate legislative director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?": * * * Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today on behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) about the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability benefits system. For nearly 80 years, PVA has been theleading voice on issues that affect catastrophically disabled veterans. Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) depend heavily on the care and benefits available through the VA for their long-term health and independence.
Paralyzed veterans generally require a range of services and benefits, including health care, specially adapted housing, adaptive equipment for their vehicles, insurance, and compensation that are tailored to their needs. Those with service-related medical conditions are entitled to compensation benefits under the law. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) administers these tax-free compensation benefits through their Compensation Service, which determines the appropriate percentage rating, whether the veteran is entitled to dependency pay, and the date the veteran was entitled to start receiving this compensation. The percentage assigned to a veteran is designed to offset a veteran's loss of earning capacity that is caused or exacerbated by these conditions. Many veterans, especially those with catastrophic disabilities, like SCI/D, rely on these payments for a substantial portion of their income.
In extreme cases, where the profoundness of the condition goes beyond just earning potential, the VA uses Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) to cover costs that arise from the impacts on the veteran's quality of life. SMC is arguably the most important ancillary benefit for veterans with severe, service-connected disabilities. The benefit is unique in that it is dependent on noneconomic factors such as the profoundness of the disability, personal inconvenience, and social inadaptability. For example, a veteran who lost the use of their lower extremities in service to their country is compensated not just for the loss in their future earning potential, but also all future hardships and costs associated with having a disability. It is also unique in the fact that VA will consider entitlement to SMC based on the medical evidence while adjudicating a claim for service-connection or an increase in an evaluation. VA considers it an "inferred issue." To be clear, given the extreme nature of the disabilities incurred by most veterans in receipt of SMC, we do not believe that the impact on quality of life can be totally compensated for; however, SMC does at least offset some of their loss.
Some of the most seriously disabled veterans who, by reason of their disability, can no longer take care of themselves without aid, may be eligible for aid and attendance (A&A). There are three rates for A&A within SMC. There are specified rates in subsections R1 and R2. If the veteran has a single 100-percent schedular-evaluated disability and requires the aid of another person to perform the personal functions required in everyday living, the veteran would be considered for A&A under 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1114 (r). If the veteran is entitled to the maximum rate under either 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1114 (o) or (p) and needed regular A&A, the veteran would be considered for A&A under 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1114 (r)(1) or SMC R1. If the veteran meets the requirements for R1 and then clearly establishes the need for supervised daily skilled health care on a continuing basis, the veteran would be considered for a higher A&A benefit under 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1114 (r)(2) or SMC R2./1
These veterans suffer from the most severely disabling conditions and might be bedridden due to a severe spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for example. Currently, the SMC rates of R1 and R2 are $9,559.22 and $10,964.66, respectively. Meanwhile, SMC T is provided to veterans suffering from severe medical residuals related to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). These veterans often need additional care, and SMC T is provided at the SMC R2 rate for additional financial support.
Even with additional financial support, many of our most severely disabled veterans are struggling. They often spend more on daily home-based care and other disability-related expenses than they receive in SMC benefits, which creates a tremendous financial strain on them. Eventually, some are forced to opt for care in an institutional setting, which is even more costly to the taxpayer. This problem is due in part to SMC's baseline rates, which haven't been adjusted in decades, so they are inadequate to offset the burden placed on veterans by their disabilities. While money alone is a poor substitute for the consequences of the injuries and disabilities incurred due to military service, these payments are essential to ease the types of burdens veterans often experience.
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1 Honoring the Call to Duty: Veterans' Disability Benefits in the 21st Century (2007), Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission.
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It's disgraceful when veterans with service-connected disabilities are portrayed as fraudsters and cheats simply for accessing earned benefits. Recent Washington Post articles have put veterans in the crosshairs while blaming Congress and the VA for making it easier for veterans to "cheat and take advantage of the system."/2
To be fair, PVA readily acknowledges that there are some veterans who attempt to defraud the VA, however, these instances are few and far between. It is our understanding that of the over 6.5 million recipients of compensation,/3 the VA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has pursued less than one percent for fraud. And to their credit, as individuals have been reported to the Inspector General, they, along with the Department of Justice, have fully investigated and pursued appropriate legal action. It is a disservice to the sacrifices of the many men and women who have served this nation to suggest that large sums of money are being wasted simply because veterans receive earned benefits for service-connected conditions.
In truth, many veterans find it difficult to file even a basic claim for disability, because the VA Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (21-526EZ) is 16 pages long--8 of which are instructions--which makes the process confusing. This is why PVA has service officers staged throughout the country at VA's Regional Offices and the department's 25 SCI/D centers to help veterans, their families, and even VA employees navigate the department's complex disability process. Our service officers are trained, professional staff who are subject to internal accountability processes. PVA has a long history of filing fully developed claims, and the nature of our members' complex conditions requires them to work longer to do that. If a client asked us to file a fraudulent claim, we let them know PVA does not do that and inform them that filing fraudulent claims is a violation of 38 CFR Sec. 14.633 (c)(4). Any such requests from a client would be recorded in our claims management system and we would stop representing them.
PVA believes that two basic benchmarks must be established when assessing the disability claims system. First and foremost, no current benefit or service for today's veterans should be diminished, including the reduction of resources for those benefits or services, in the interest of change. Second, and no less important, there should be no distinction made between combat and non-combat related disabilities or where the disabling event occurred. PVA views all veterans in the same light, and we believe that the current system reflects appropriate priorities. When considering the subject of fraud, waste, and abuse, the far greater concern is how much is lost through inefficient processes and procedures. We have gone on record numerous times to discuss ways to make the disability compensation system less vulnerable to fraud and waste, while ensuring that veterans are fairly compensated for their conditions.
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2 How Some Veterans Exploit $193 Billion VA Program, Due to Lax Controls, The Washington Post.
3 Veterans Benefits Administration, Annual Benefits Report, Fiscal Year 2024.
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Contract Claims Examiners
When a veteran files a claim for disability compensation, a medical examination is the keystone in the adjudication process. A good, thorough examination is crucial to an accurate outcome; however, a poor examination could lead to years of additional action, adding to the appeals backlog, and could end up being extremely costly to the VA in terms of funding and veterans' diminished trust in the system. PVA strongly believes medical examinations for complex, service-related conditions such as SCI/D and TBI, as well as those related to military sexual trauma (MST), should be conducted by a medical practitioner working directly for the Veterans Health Administration; however, contract exams may be appropriate for other types of claims. Regardless, the VA must ensure that any contracted compensation and pension (C&P) examiners are qualified to conduct necessary exams and any legislative proposals supporting contract exams should include such provisions.
VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual states that there are only four types of examinations that are routinely performed by specialists (hearing, vision, dental, and psychiatric). It further states that a specialist examination may be requested only if there are conflicting opinions or diagnoses, in compliance with a Board of Veteran's Appeals remand, or the issue is deemed "unusually complex."/4
Immediately, this raises concerns. PVA represents veterans who have an array of disabilities that present themselves through a kaleidoscope of varying symptoms, indicators, and mobility ranges. Many of these conditions are not routinely associated with a neurological disorder, so without specialized diagnostic experience, they could be missed, complicating or even extending the veteran's claims process.
These conditions should be flagged as "unusually complex." However, we have heard from our service officers that they routinely see a lack of expertise in specific medical specialties, which delays the adjudication of veterans' claims. For instance, one office reported that there were multiple concerns with a C&P examiner who was conducting peripheral neuropathy examinations for veterans whose claims involved multiple sclerosis (MS). These errors would likely not have been committed had a specialist conducted the exams. If a situation like this involved a veteran suffering from ALS, this oversight would be especially egregious, as the life expectancy of those with ALS is so limited that any delay in processing their claim deprives them of critical resources during the little time they have left.
Equally important to the qualifications of the provider is an accessible, barrier-free facility to conduct exams. In May of 2024, the VA OIG found accessibility barriers at more than half of the 135 contractor facilities they visited./5
PVA members have experienced similar barriers when accessing C&P exams, as well as community care appointments. Our members have seen exam rooms that are physically inaccessible and/or lack overhead patient ceiling lifts. Restrooms often have accessibility barriers, causing members to pause and wonder why the VA is sending them to facilities that are ill equipped to accommodate them.
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4 M21-1 IV.i.2.A.6, Failure to Report and Rescheduling Examinations.
5 VA OIG, Better Oversight Needed of Accessibility, Safety, and Cleanliness at Contract Facilities Offering VA Disability Exams, May 8, 2024.
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We also receive reports of inaccessible medical diagnostic equipment, such as medical examination tables, weight scales, dental chairs, x-ray machines, mammography, and other imaging equipment. An inability to access any one of these critical diagnostic devices diminishes providers' ability to accurately evaluate service-related medical conditions. These are just some of the examples that illustrate the significant number of barriers our members generally face when trying to obtain adequate medical exams.
Another barrier encountered by SCI/D veterans is getting to the contract facility. Several of our members have been expected to travel more than 100 miles to reach the contracted facility, and occasionally, even while the veteran is critically ill. Some of our veterans' injuries are so severe they may be unable to physically appear for an exam; so, our service officers request on VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim) a telehealth or in-person visit from a C&P examiner. Many times, these requests are not seen or are simply ignored. Some service officers write the request on the VA Form 21-526 (Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits) but the contractor insists the veteran must attend in person or they will claim the veteran was a "no-show," causing unnecessary delays to benefits and services the veteran may be eligible for, which forces service officers to file supplemental claims, further adding to the claims backlog. VA and third-party vendors' policies regarding these situations need to be examined, and greater use of telehealth exams and traveling examiners should be made.
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DBQ Quality Assurance
PVA strongly believes that the VA could improve the quality control review of an incoming disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) before it is input into a veteran's file, and further, can ensure that fraud can be investigated and prosecuted. Currently, VA claims processers have the authority "to evaluate and weigh all evidence of record, including privately completed DBQs. If it is determined that a privately completed DBQ contains indicator(s) of inauthenticity that are substantive enough to deem it potentially inauthentic or fraudulent, claims processors have the authority to assign low or no probative value to the privately completed DBQ."/6
But if a DBQ is completed by a contracted examiner, the claims processors "are not expected to routinely scrutinize or question the credentials of clinical personnel to determine the acceptability of their reports, unless there is contradictory evidence of record." However, according to the VA's Clinician's Guide, it informs contract providers, "It is important to remember that VBA Raters are not clinicians and therefore may not understand concepts that are considered basic or assumed by those educated in the field of medicine."/7
This leads to obvious questions of whether the claims processors are actually picking up on the adequacy of DBQs and the possibility of fraudulent/inconsistent findings being recorded by either outside providers or contracted examiners.
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6 M21-1, Part IV, Subpart i, 3.A.1.g, General Criteria for Sufficiency of Examination Reports.
7 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Disability and Medical Assessment (DMA) Compensation and Pension (C&P) Disability Examinations Clinician's Guide.
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VA's Medical Disability Examiners Office (MDEO) presently employs approximately 20 quality analysts whose job it is to review DBQs that are received from contractors and determine whether or not they are "contractually compliant" by ensuring that the reports include all requested issues, reviewing for discrepancies, and whether or not the report described the condition(s) that have impacted the veteran's ability to work, among other requirements. However, these analysts only have access to the DBQs after they have been uploaded to the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), which is the same time claims processors receive them. Often, this is too late as the processors are waiting to finalize a claim and only need the DBQ to finish the rating process. According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from August 2025, "MDEO officials say many claims continue through processing and are decided before the office completes its checklist review. After MDEO identifies errors, claims processors determine if the errors affected their decisions on the claims."/8
In order to effectively do their jobs and to provide real oversight to the claims process, PVA believes that MDEO should provide two changes to the claims process. First, prior to them being downloaded to VBMS, all DBQs, regardless of whether they are provided by the veteran or a contractor, should go into a drop box that is only accessible by the quality analysts. Second, the quality analysts should be trained and required to review the forms for contractual compliance and for potential fraud/inconsistent findings. Only after this review has been done should the forms be uploaded to VBMS and the claims process be allowed to continue.
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Incorrect Effective Dates
Once veterans are service-connected, issues such as overpayments continue to create waste and inefficiency in the benefits system and place further burdens on veterans and their families. For example, VBA too often has difficulty assigning correct effective dates for claims, both rating and non-rating./9
An improper effective date could result in lost compensation or, more detrimentally, create a debt that the veteran must repay. For many veterans, losing a portion of their benefits toward repayment of a debt can lead them to dire financial straits. PVA believes that the most common causes for incorrect effective dates and unnecessary overpayments are easily remedied.
According to PVA's service officers, removal of dependents from a veteran's claim triggers the most problems with effective dates and improper payments. When veterans experience qualifying life events like divorce, marriage of a child, or death of a dependent, and seek to halt payments for that dependent, they must fill out VA Form 21-686c, a rather lengthy and complicated form, and submit it and the needed documentation to the VA. Even when veterans submit their request in a timely manner, many wait several months or even longer to have VA remove the additional monetary amount for their dependent from the veteran's monthly compensation.
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8 VA Disability Benefits: Additional Oversight and Information Could Improve Quality of Contracted Exams for Veterans.
9 VA OIG reports: Accuracy of Claims Involving Service-Connected Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Accuracy of Effective Dates for Reduced Evaluations Needs Improvement, Processing Inaccuracies Involving Veterans' Intent to File Submissions for Benefits.
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Because of VA's inaction, the veteran accrues a debt totaling hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars that the department will eventually be forced to try and recoup. The veteran has the option of asking for the debt to be waived, which is a process that PVA's service officers assist with regularly. To seek a waiver, a different form must be completed and taxpayer dollars spent for VA employees to consider the veteran's request.
When a veteran returns to active duty, either due to being recalled as a reservist or a voluntary reenlistment, their benefits are generally not affected. However, "[p]ension, compensation, or retirement pay on account of any person's own service shall not be paid to such person for any period for which such person receives active service pay."/10
The veteran is obligated to inform the VA either via phone or by filing a VA Form 21-4138 (Statement In Support of Claim) to inform the department of the veteran's intention to enter active duty and the need to pause any benefit payments. The issue then becomes how quickly the VA acts on the request. As with the removal of dependents off a veteran's award, it often takes the VA months to stop a veteran's compensation payment creating a debt totaling thousands of dollars that the veteran must repay. This debt can create a crippling financial situation for the veteran, especially if it occurs while the service member is deployed and there is little or no help on how to fight the decision. Any veteran who has chosen to return to duty to serve our country deserves better.
In conclusion, PVA strongly believes that addressing areas where VA can be more efficient would benefit both veterans and taxpayers. As we have discussed, by not taking simple measures to ensure that examinations are done by specialists for complex medical issues, or by not ensuring that every DBQ is scrutinized for quality assurance before a claim is allowed to move forward, the VA is allowing subpar medical findings to impact a veteran's claim for benefits. This, in turn, leads to bad rating decisions which inevitably leads to an appeal. Appeals delay the veteran's claim process sometimes for years and cost this nation untold amounts of taxpayer dollars. The need to waive unnecessary overpayments also leads to waste simply because the benefits process is inefficient.
Additionally, veterans who are seen in a clean and accessible facility, by a qualified and competent doctor, who provides an adequate examination with reasonable findings, usually are fairly happy with the decisions that are rendered. However, when a veteran is not able to access a facility and/or is seen by a medical provider who is not qualified to be giving the needed examination or provides the wrong examination, a veteran has every reason to no longer trust the system and can easily be tempted to seek less ethical routes to obtaining medical evidence or advice on how to get their earned benefits. Veterans should not be so disenchanted with the process that they fall prey to unethical actors just to receive earned benefits.
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10 38 USC 5304, Prohibition against duplication of benefits.
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Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the committee, I would like to thank you once again for the opportunity to present our views on VA's disability claims process. We look forward to continuing our work with you to ensure that veterans get timely access to high quality healthcare and all the benefits that they have earned and deserve. I would be happy to answer any questions.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/C5BA8E1A-BD48-449D-9F0D-86CB22FDDAE3
Ex-U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gade Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Daniel M. Gade, former lieutenant colonel at the U.S. Army, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?":* * *
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the VA disability compensation system. My testimony will differ from most you've heard. I am a member of no veterans service organization and have no motive other than to help restore the lives and dignity of millions of veterans.
For too long, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Daniel M. Gade, former lieutenant colonel at the U.S. Army, from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Putting Veterans First: Is the Current VA Disability System Keeping Its Promise?": * * * Ladies and Gentlemen: Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the VA disability compensation system. My testimony will differ from most you've heard. I am a member of no veterans service organization and have no motive other than to help restore the lives and dignity of millions of veterans. For too long,you've been told that the best way to care for veterans is to shovel billions of taxpayer dollars into their pockets;/1 this approach has resulted in a veteran class that is sicker,/2 more marginally employed, and more suicidal/3 than ever. By paying veterans to be sick, we create more sick veterans,/4 separated from meaningful lives of purpose--and we deepen our suicide crisis.
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1 https://www.independentbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Independent-Budget-2024_FINALDIGITAL.pdf
2 http://armedforcesjournal.com/medicine-and-the-gwot/#:~:text=GWOT%20returnees%20are%20using%20veterans,attempt%20and/or%20substance%20abu se.
3 https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2024/2024-Annual-Report-Part-2-of-2_508.pdf
4 The proportion of "disabled veterans" has grown from about 1:10 in 2000 to 1:3 now, despite better care and community support.
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I developed this perspective through hard experience and long study. I was wounded in combat twice, losing my right leg and spending a year at Walter Reed. After recovery, I earned a master's degree and joined the White House Domestic Policy Council, where my previously acquired "user level" experience was bolstered by my work alongside both the Dole Shalala Commission/5 and the Scott Commission./6
I later completed a PhD in public policy, focused on the VA claims process, and while teaching at West Point co-led the Independence Project, a randomized control trial demonstrating the powerful link between employment and health. In 2021, I published Wounding Warriors: How Bad Policy Is Making Veterans Sicker and Poorer/7 and recently served two years as Virginia's Commissioner of Veterans Services.
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Exec summary:
The surge in disability claims is not due to combat injuries but to a culture that rewards illness. Last year alone, over 450,000 new compensation recipients entered the system-- while total combat-wounded from the Global War on Terror number around 50,000. Last year, more than 270,000 veterans began receiving compensation for tinnitus, which is 100 times the number of GWOT amputees over a 20 year period. Blessedly high survival rates from combat wounds are not the cause of the growth: this lie allows advocates to tuck every veteran disability claim under the cloak of combat wounds.
Instead, the avalanche of claims is driven by non-profits and pay-to-play claims companies/8 that encourage veterans to selectively exaggerate or falsify symptoms to "grab all they can". Aging, genetic, and lifestyle conditions are increasingly labeled "service connected",/9 resulting in tens or hundreds of thousands of veterans rated as "100% disabled" who have no true incapacity,/10 or whose incapacity would have eventuated regardless of service status. I propose two principles of reform.
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5 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-110hhrg39452/html/CHRG-110hhrg39452.htm
6 https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/8A93EC51-9569-41FB-A7E6-4E9EBF359EFA
7 Www.woundingwarriors.com
8 Some of these companies have physicians on staff who will provide pre-formatted DBQs without ever examining the veteran. These falsified reports are then submitted to the VA, causing millions in unjustified disability payments.
9 The PACT Act was shockingly complicit in this regard. For example, veteran hypertension rates are exactly the same as their age and sex adjusted peers, but the PACT Act makes hypertension presumptive for Vietnam veterans. This burdens the taxpayer and diverts VA resources from true service caused disabilities.
10 https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2016/demo/Holder-2016-01.pdf
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Principle #1: Meaningful employment is powerful medicine
A 2020 paper called employment a "Critical mental health intervention"11. Unfortunately, veteran participation in the labor market, especially among men in prime working years, is markedly lower than their civilian counterparts,/12 and has been steadily declining over the past 20 years./13
Disability compensation discourages work by rewarding inactivity; some programs create a direct barrier to work./14
Any separation from the labor force causes isolation, malaise,/15 and reduced income coupled with a demand for ever-higher "disability" payments.
We should shift dollars from paying veterans to be sick toward meaningful incentives for gaining and maintaining productive employment. Early positive incentives can have a long-lasting positive effect, as demonstrated by the Independence Project.
Principle #2: Disability compensation is a destructive goal
"Disability" is a negative word. In Latin, "dis" means "not", "opposite of" or "apart". The disability compensation system pulls veterans into a destructive identity as "disabled veteran" rather than helping create a positive, forward-looking life and career. This system is anti-thriving, anti-productivity, and ultimately anti-veteran. Further, it discourages future generations serving by painting veterans as a troubled, problem class.
The compensation system traps veterans in a disability identity,/16 teaching them to chase a 100% rating as proof of honor or source of validation. 9 of the top 10 conditions for newly rated veterans are easily exaggerated or totally unverifiable./17
We need a system that affirms veterans' capacity to thrive, not their presumed fragility.
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11 Drake RE, Wallach MA. Employment is a critical mental health intervention. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2020 Nov 5;29:e178. doi: 10.1017/S2045796020000906. PMID: 33148366; PMCID: PMC7681163.
12 https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea40.htm
13 https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU01349526
14 The Individual Unemployability program is particularly destructive in this regard- by paying veterans only if they do not achieve meaningful employment, IU blocks veterans from the beneficial effects of the labor market.
15 Milner A, Page A, LaMontagne AD. Cause and effect in studies on unemployment, mental health and suicide: a meta-analytic and conceptual review. Psychological Medicine. 2014;44(5):909-917.doi:10.1017/S0033291713001621
16 https://psycnet.apa.org/manuscript/2022-94770-001.pdf
17 The top ten conditions for new recipients in 2024 were tinnitus, limited knee flexion, back strain, limited motion of the arm, hearing loss, scars or burns, sciatica, limited ankle motion, migraine, and PTSD. Of those only scars or burns are readily identifiable and not subject to feigning or exaggeration.
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Here are several steps that would protect the integrity of the system:
1) Treat but do not compensate for non-disabling conditions/18,19 and eliminate conditions caused by genetics, aging, or lifestyle from the compensation rolls.
Sleep apnea is one obvious example; there are hundreds of others./20
2) Require active treatment for compensated mental health conditions. If
compensation is warranted, so is care.
3) Extend VA medical eligibility for all service-related conditions without tying it to disability ratings, removing incentives for false claims.
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Conclusion:
The current disability system robs veterans of purpose and dignity, trapping them in idleness and despair. Further, the isolation brought on by separation from the labor market can and does send many veterans into a morass of tragic consequences.
Reform will be difficult--entrenched interests protect the status quo--but it is essential. A close look at past changes shows that what survives the legislative and rule-making process are usually additions to existing programs or the creation of new programs; the VA budget grows inexorably despite the system causing immense ongoing harm. Deep structural reform will save lives and restore what veterans truly need: meaning, work, and hope.
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18 Examples of VA-rated "disabilities" that result in no functional incapacity are legion:
19 https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2016/demo/Holder-2016-01.pdf
20 For example, vitiligo, sinusitis, unspecified knee pain, erectile dysfunction, female arousal disorder, and many more conditions, including eczema, hay fever, acne, and tinnitus (as reported by The Washington Post) are good targets for treatment or therapy or treatment, not compensation.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/8F337983-222F-440C-93DD-DF9F0620397D
Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans & Forces Nominee Dahmer Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Austin J. Dahmer, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for strategy, plans and forces, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, distinguished members of the Committee on Armed Services, good morning.
It is an exceptional honor to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans, and Forces. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve our nation.
I want to ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Austin J. Dahmer, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for strategy, plans and forces, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, distinguished members of the Committee on Armed Services, good morning. It is an exceptional honor to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans, and Forces. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve our nation. I want toexpress my deep and abiding gratitude to President Trump for nominating me for this critical role, and to Secretary Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Feinberg, and Under Secretary Colby for their trust and leadership. I am fully committed to implementing the President's agenda for American defense strategy, focused on putting Americans' interests first and realizing the President's vision of Peace Through Strength.
To my family, who are here today and those watching from afar - your unwavering love and support have been my constant foundation throughout my career. Especially to my remarkable wife Ellie, herself a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and to my darling daughter Sutton, thank you for your endless understanding, encouragement, and love. I could not do this without you, and I thank God for you every day.
Members of the Committee, the role of Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans, and Forces to which President Trump nominated me comes with genuinely profound responsibilities, especially at such a critical time for our national security. Peace and the protection of American interests cannot be assumed. We must ensure our military coheres under a sound defense strategy; that it has the forces, plans, and posture to execute the strategy; that our efforts to arm allies and partners strengthen and do not detract from our ability to execute our strategy; and that, ultimately, the Joint Force is able to deter our rivals, and if deterrence fails, give the President the best possible military options to prevail in conflict.
My career has been dedicated to grappling with these precise challenges. President Trump appointed me to the Department on January 20th and for the last nine months, I have had the opportunity to lead various parts of the Policy organization ensuring that the Department's strategic approach is aligned with the President's Peace Through Strength agenda.
My tenure in Congress as a Senate National Security Advisor provided me invaluable experience. My work here for the Article I branch of government has given me a deep appreciation for the vital role this body plays in our national defense. During this time, I traveled extensively across the United States and the Indo-Pacific, gaining firsthand insights into the strategic and operational challenges facing our warfighters, especially in the face of China's extraordinary military buildup.
My other work prior to my time on Capitol Hill has also provided me with extensive experience relevant to the role to which President Trump has nominated me. My academic and research background underscores my commitment to rigorous, fact-based thinking on defense strategy and force planning issues of the type that is required in this role. My work in the defense industry on a broad array of strategic and military-technical issues provides a range of insights on which to draw. I also continue to leverage my experience as a ground intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, for what it taught me as a leader and for the direct experience it affords me of operational planning, military forces and capabilities, readiness, and related issues. This blend of strategic thinking and practical experience is what I assess is needed to meet the moment in this role, and if confirmed, I pledge to leverage every ounce of my experience to ensure our strategy is sound and our forces are optimized to execute it.
I pledge to be a faithful partner to this Committee, actively supporting your critical oversight responsibility, and seeking your input, as we work together toward the common goal of securing our nation and protecting our freedoms.
Thank you again for this tremendous honor. I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dahmer_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower & Reserve Affairs Nominee Dill Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Timothy Dill, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for manpower and reserve affairs, from a Nov. 6, 2025, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of this Committee, I am honored to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee to be the Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for guiding my steps throughout my life, President Trump for nominating ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Timothy Dill, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for manpower and reserve affairs, from a Nov. 6, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of this Committee, I am honored to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee to be the Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for guiding my steps throughout my life, President Trump for nominatingme for this role, and Secretary Hegseth and Under Secretary Tata for their confidence and support.
I'd also like to thank Senator Cruz for the opportunity to serve on his staff and for his kind introduction today. It was an honor to work on behalf of the people of Texas, and my time as a Senate staffer deepened my appreciation for the role that the Senate, and specifically this Committee, plays in overseeing our military.
Behind me is my beautiful wife Andrea, a constitutional law attorney who has so graciously supported my career, our daughter Naomi, and our son Claymore. I'm also joined by my father Doug and my mother Annie, my sister Bethany, my brother David, and his wife Aleta. My sister Emily and her husband Robb, a long-serving Department of the Army civilian are currently stationed in Germany and could not join today. I'm also joined by my wife's parents, Scott and Christi Beathard, my aunts and uncles, Liz and Jerry August and Herb and Patty McCracken, and fellow Soldiers from various points of my career. Thank you to each of you, and a special thanks to my mother for so patiently homeschooling me for 11 years, and to my father for modeling a lifetime of servant leadership.
I grew up in Akron, OH, across the street from Sam McNeill, a WWII veteran who earned the Silver Star while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. Both my grandfathers also served in WWII: William Knapp in the Army, and Leslie Dill in the Navy.
I was 16 when the World Trade Center towers fell. Like many of my generation, that defining event in our nation's history called me to military service, and I commissioned as a U.S. Army officer in 2007 through Army ROTC.
I served ten years on active duty, first in the footsteps of my neighbor Sam in the 82nd Airborne Division, then as a Green Beret in 3rd Special Forces Group. I was honored to lead Soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
My military service was transformational, giving me more than I could ever give back and deepening my love for our country. Serving alongside our nation's finest Paratroopers and Green Berets challenged me to give my all and shaped my future steps.
When I took off my uniform for the last time, the GI Bill covered my graduate degree at my dream school, which is where I met my wife, giving me the best transition to civilian life for which I could have asked.
I am grateful to have a new opportunity to serve. If confirmed, I will strive for excellence in my role as a senior civilian leader in the Department on behalf of three groups:
The first is my comrades in arms who gave their lives to preserve our freedom. I hope for my service to honor their memory and further the cause for which they fought.
The second is the three million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians and civilian personnel who now have the watch, including many of the outstanding men and women with whom I was honored to serve.
The third is the generation who will next carry the torch. That generation may include my own children, and I hope to ensure their opportunity to, like me, serve their country in a merit-based military that molds the next generation of leaders.
The U.S. military has long fielded an all-volunteer force, and the Department must continue to inspire our finest young men and women to volunteer to serve, both in uniform and as members of our critical civilian workforce. We must also persuade the best among them to stay and become senior leaders. To do those things the Department must continue to communicate the high calling of military service, the same call that led me to an Army ROTC recruiter 19 years ago. It must also provide them with desirable opportunities, relevant training, and a good quality of life, including for their families. The Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower & Reserve Affairs shoulders each of those responsibilities and more, and if confirmed I will welcome that challenge.
Thank you for considering my nomination, and I look forward to answering your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dill_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of War Nominee Kadlec Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Robert P. Kadlec, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for nuclear deterrence, chemical and biological defense policy and programs, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and members of the Committee. I am honored to be President Trump's nominee for the Assistant Secretary of War for Nuclear Deterrence & Chemical & Biological Defense Policy and Programs. I want to thank the President and Secretary Hegseth for their trust and confidence. ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Robert P. Kadlec, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of War for nuclear deterrence, chemical and biological defense policy and programs, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and members of the Committee. I am honored to be President Trump's nominee for the Assistant Secretary of War for Nuclear Deterrence & Chemical & Biological Defense Policy and Programs. I want to thank the President and Secretary Hegseth for their trust and confidence.I strongly support their commitment to preserve peace through strength, by increasing the lethality of our armed forces and reestablishing deterrence.
If confirmed, I intend to pursue 4 priorities to achieve their objectives:
1. Maintain and sustain the current nuclear Triad,
2. Modernize our nuclear command and control.
3. Accelerate the development and deployment of the Sentinel ICBM, B-21 bomber, Columbia class submarine, and other critical nuclear deterrent capabilities, as well as supporting modernization of NNSA's nuclear enterprise.
4. Deploy credible capabilities to deter adversary biological weapons use.
I want to acknowledge my family, Dr. Ann Vrtis, an accomplished anesthesiologist, veteran and retired Air Force colonel and my two daughters, one who is currently serving in the US Army. My daughters are here today in spirit.
I also want to acknowledge the memory of my parents who survived World War II's devastation. My mother, an American teenager was held in a Nazi detention camp. She met my father, a Czech national in a forced labor factory. After the war, my mother returned to America. My father escaped in 1949 and worked in refugee camps until my mom could raise the money for his trip over. He became an American citizen in 1952.
In 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War and height of the Cold War, I entered the Air Force Academy intent on becoming a flight surgeon.
I earned the opportunity to attend medical school because of an act by Congress, I attended the War Department's medical school the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
My flight surgeon career began with the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field. In 1984, the Wing was still grappling with the failed Desert One mission and the implications of the Holloway Commission Report. The Cold War was still "hot", and the Wing's focus was how to fly, fight and win in a CBRN environment. That experience influenced my pursuit of training in tropical diseases, military preventive medicine and a career supporting special operations, counterterrorism and counterproliferation.
In 1990, I was assigned to an Air Force Special Tactics Squadron at Fort Bragg. My first day was memorable as Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. I was part of a small team ordered to the Pentagon to support planning efforts to deter and defeat any use of WMD by Iraq. From Bragg, I was assigned to OSD's first counterproliferation policy office, serving both as a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq and the OSD representative to the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva. From the Pentagon, I served in the CIA's counterproliferation division. Then taught future military leaders WMD and homeland security policy at the National War College until the 911 attacks. While serving on the White House Homeland Security Council, I co-authored President Bush's Biodefense Policy and deployed 4 times to Iraq in support of the counter WMD mission.
After retiring from military service in 2005, Senator Burr hired me as his staff director of the Senate HELP bioterrorism subcommittee and later the deputy staff director of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
During President Trump's first term, I had the privilege of being confirmed as HHS' Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response. In that role, I led the medical responses to hurricanes HARVEY, IRMA and MARIA, planned for the possible use of nuclear weapons by North Korea, led the HHS COVID-19 pandemic response that resulted in accelerated vaccine development and deployment in OPERATION WARP SPEED.
I accepted this nomination because I believe we are at another critical time in our nation's history. The Congressionally mandated Strategic Posture Commission noted that for the first time, we confront two peer nuclear adversaries who are intent on replacing the US-led international order.
The risk of simultaneous wars with multiple adversaries each possessing advanced conventional, space, cyber, nuclear and chem-bio capabilities challenge our current deterrent posture requiring adjustments in our nuclear forces, including potentially new or different capabilities. The priorities of sustaining our current nuclear triad, accelerating deployment of future capabilities, ensuring effective command and control, modernizing the nuclear enterprise and creating a credible deterrent against biological attacks are all urgent and vital for America's future security.
As the Commission noted addressing gaps and identifying opportunities may require additional deterrent capabilities.
My parents' life story continues to inspire me. If confirmed, I shall work tirelessly modernizing our nuclear deterrent and improving our chem-bio defenses to protect our homeland and the Joint Force from WMD, preserve peace and freedom for our children and America's posterity. I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/kadlec_opening_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation & International Affairs Nominee Edwards Testifies Before Senate Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following testimony by Daniel Edwards, President Trump's nominee to be under secretary of Transportation for aviation and international affairs, from a Nov. 5, 2025, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the committee, good afternoon.
My name is Dan Edwards, and it is truly my honor to be nominated as the Assistant Secretary of Aviation & International Affairs for the United States Department of Transportation.
I want to start by thanking President Trump ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following testimony by Daniel Edwards, President Trump's nominee to be under secretary of Transportation for aviation and international affairs, from a Nov. 5, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the committee, good afternoon. My name is Dan Edwards, and it is truly my honor to be nominated as the Assistant Secretary of Aviation & International Affairs for the United States Department of Transportation. I want to start by thanking President Trumpfor the honor of nomination and Secretary Sean Duffy for the confidence and steadfast support during my time at DOT. Senator Budd, I greatly appreciate the kind introduction and your service to the great state of North Carolina.
Joining me today is my wife of 30 years and anchor to the Edwards family--Kimberly. I owe the Air Force a huge debt for stationing me near her hometown of Utica, NY where we met and began a life where she thought she signed on to a turbulence-free full-motion simulator ride, but instead got strapped into a high-G journey with an uncertain destination.
Also here are my identical twin 27-year-old daughters--Jillian and Kaelyn. They were born on July 4th in Camden, NJ into a level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit--the highest level of critical care--and to this day follow the light. When they were 16, they enlisted the help of their grandfather, Earl, who was an accountant, to start a non-profit called Jillian's Jitterbug. The organization continues to provide financial assistance for families to purchase equipment that allows their disabled children to become independent. Lastly, I am joined by my brother, Colonel Doug Edwards, and his wife and son, Joy and Ethan--without whom my service in Washington would not be possible.
I began my public service in 1987 when I attended the United States Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves for 23 years. In that time, I was an airfield engineer, and a KC-10 pilot, flying over 100 combat missions. During my time in the reserves, I flew as a commercial pilot and accumulated over 4,000 flight hours as both a military and commercial pilot.
Following my time as an Air Force and airline pilot, I dedicated the next 25 years of my career to the aerospace and defense industry. This experience allowed me to gain a broad understanding spanning product development, safety, airfield engineering and construction, C4ISR, supply chain and distribution, and aircraft maintenance. I am eager to apply those skills to public service and contribute to the next big leap in aviation.
I have found my time at DOT over the last 6 months professionally rewarding given the broad and profound impact of our work. If confirmed, serving as the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs would represent the apex of my career, and it is my intent to demonstrate my fitness to do so today in this hearing. I humbly thank you for your time and consideration.
I believe we find ourselves at a pivotal time in Aviation. 60 years passed between the Wright Brothers' first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC and John Glenn's orbit around Earth. We are 63 years removed from that first orbit and, with the advent of Advanced Air Mobility, we are sitting on the next inflection point in aviation history.
Safety is paramount. Takeoffs and landings must remain in balance. If confirmed, I would continue to work, under Secretary Duffy's leadership, to continue the department's core mission of ensuring transportation safety--especially in America's skies.
While maintaining safety, as the most important goal, I will pursue three additional key goals: (1) ensuring the economic viability of US carriers through thoughtful economic licensing, development and enforcement of international agreements and access to a competition-friendly market; (2) supporting the development of infrastructure that will meet the dynamic needs of the American economy and commercializing new technologies to ensure U.S. aviation leadership; and, perhaps most importantly, (3) sustaining and enhancing access to commercial air service for all Americans.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead large organizations in the military and private sectors, gaining extensive experience leading multi-site global businesses. I am hopeful that you will find that the path I've taken to this chamber, on this day, worthy of confirmation to serve in the DOT.
Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/7238C11D-29A6-4B6F-985B-E35918CF30E4
Assistant Secretary of Air Force for Energy, Installations & Environment Nominee Borders Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Michael J. Borders Jr., President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee. It is the honor of a lifetime to appear before you today as the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment. The confirmation process reflects one of the great strengths of our ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Michael J. Borders Jr., President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment, from a Nov. 4, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Committee. It is the honor of a lifetime to appear before you today as the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment. The confirmation process reflects one of the great strengths of ourdemocracy and I thank you for your role in it and you and your staff's time. I am deeply grateful to President Trump for this opportunity and humbled by the trust he has placed in me. I would also like to thank Secretary of War Hegseth and Secretary of the Air Force Meink.
With profound gratitude, I give thanks to God who calls us to righteousness and justice. I thank him for the blessings of family the gift of service, and the opportunity to be before you today. I want to thank those who shaped this journey: My parents, Master Sgt Mike Borders Sr. US Army Reserves (Ret) and Karen Borders, they refused to let me quit anything, ever. My brother Rodney and his family. My resilient wife Monira and my son Zayne for their support. This is the foundation that allowed me to serve our nation and hopefully continue serving.
Last month, I concluded a 28-year active duty career in the United States Air Force. A career where I defended nuclear weapons, conducted detainee operations in Afghanistan and led counterinsurgency operations in Iraq, spending over 36 months in the Middle East. I teamed with the interagency to develop US government policy for Thailand and Burma. I've commanded six times with over eight years in command. It taught me that changing paradigms requires more than ideas--it demands execution at the speed of relevance. I have worked to move beyond traditional approaches, ensuring every project and policy produced measurable results for the mission and for the Airmen and Guardians who rely on these platforms.
The office I have been nominated to lead sits at the heart of operational readiness. Our installations are not simply bases or infrastructure; they are power projection platforms essential to defeating China or any adversary who would test our resolve.
Ending Iranian nuclear aspirations began in the local communities around Whiteman Air Force Base, where our Airmen and their families live and work in. I understand this and so does China. Our bases, energy grids, and military housing represent exactly the kinds of infrastructure they aim to hold at risk. I believe protecting our installations and energy systems is not an abstract policy discussion; it is directly tied to our ability to deter and defeat China or any future adversary. We are at a critical moment. China is investing heavily in capabilities designed to hold our bases at risk and local communities at risk, disrupt our logistics, and deny our access. The question is not whether our installations will be tested; it is will they be ready.
If confirmed, my priorities will remain tightly aligned with that mission: - Resilient Installations: Building and sustaining bases and local communities that can operate under attack and continue to generate combat power. - Energy Assurance: Developing secure, adaptive energy systems that reduce vulnerabilities and ensure mission continuity in contested environments. - Environmental Stewardship: Meeting our obligations to the land, water, and communities we serve while sustaining operational readiness. - Quality of Life: Given that that that our Nation's most valued resource is its military servicemembers and their families, recognizing that safe, quality and well-maintained homes and strong community integration are essential to mission readiness.
These priorities are inseparable and every decision in this portfolio must strengthen those priorities.
I also recognize that success in this role depends on partnership. The Department of the Air Force's strength lies in its dedicated military and civilian professionals, the local communities that support them, and the oversight and support of this Committee. If confirmed, I am committed to transparency and will work with you, listen to the concerns of Airmen, Guardians and their families, and build alliances across government and industry to ensure rapid, measurable progress.
This nomination is more than an honor; it is a solemn responsibility, and I feel the weight of it. It is the participation in our sacred principle of civilian control over the military. It is a charge to ensure every dollar strengthens mission capability, honors the taxpayer, and sustains the force for the future fight.
As I close, I return to gratitude: to God for strength, to my parents for teaching me the value of service; to my wife and Zayne for their support and motivation; to President Trump, Secretary of War Hegseth, and Secretary of the Air Force Meink for their trust; and to this Committee for your partnership and oversight.
If confirmed, I will bring to this office a record of delivering results, a focus on operational outcomes, and an unwavering commitment to the Airmen, Guardians, and families who defend our nation. Together, we can ensure our installations remain power projection platforms capable of deterring and defeating any foe, that our energy systems make us more agile and secure, and that our environmental stewardship reflects the trust of the American people.
Thank you for considering my nomination. I look forward to your questions and to the opportunity to serve.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/borders_opening_statement.pdf
Huntsman CEO Testifies Before Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight released the following written testimony by Peter R. Huntsman, chairman, president and CEO of Huntsman Corp., from an Oct. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals":* * *
Why I Am Here Today
Chairman Curtis, Ranking Member Merkley, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on appropriate regulation of the American chemical industry to support innovation and ensure ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight released the following written testimony by Peter R. Huntsman, chairman, president and CEO of Huntsman Corp., from an Oct. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals": * * * Why I Am Here Today Chairman Curtis, Ranking Member Merkley, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on appropriate regulation of the American chemical industry to support innovation and ensureAmerican prosperity. It is an honor. I take very seriously the First Amendment right to engage directly with elected officials and policymakers of both parties to educate and inform them about how Huntsman Corporation and American chemical manufacturers manage risk, make capital investment decisions, support our employees, and deliver the products that make modern life possible.
The primary reason I am here today is to share my observations on policy, political, business, and cultural forces that will shape the future of the American chemical sector - and with it America's entire economy. If there is one conclusion I want Members of the Committee to come away with from my testimony, it is this:
American prosperity, security and power are entirely dependent on a strong, thriving and properly regulated chemical sector. Without it, modern life is not possible. That is not hyperbole. It is physical, immutable reality.
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The Huntsman Story
Through the vision and tenacity of my father, Jon Huntsman, Sr. and with the support of tens of thousands of employees over a half century, Huntsman Corporation today is a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) traded company headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, with 2024 revenues of $6 billion, 6,000 employees and operations in nearly 25 countries. My father's life began in 1937 in a Blackfoot, Idaho home with no running water. By the end of his life in 2018, he had donated nearly $1 billion dollars to endow the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Today, HCI is the leading cancer hospital in the Mountain West Region and has saved tens of thousands of lives through world leading cancer treatment.
It was a story that can only happen in America.
After dropping out of college, I started my career in 1983 as a truck driver delivering oil across the Intermountain West. In 2000, I became President and CEO and Chairman in 2017. As our company grew from a small California packaging company into a multinational chemical company, I have witnessed boom and bust business cycles, mergers and acquisitions, multiple iterations of "peak oil," the collapse of the Soviet Union, unification of Europe, 2
the rise of China, the creation of the Internet and the transformational impact of hydraulic fracturing, among others. I have also observed the policy and regulatory environment around the chemical sector ebb and flow across Democrat and Republican Administrations and Congresses. Our company and the chemical industry have played a role in all of it.
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Chemical Manufacturing, and Innovation
I want to provide a basic primer on what chemical companies do because chemicals are the building blocks for all American manufacturing. In the most basic form, we take atoms and molecules, break them apart and then put them back together to make the building blocks of virtually everything you see and touch in modern life. Automobiles, airplanes, solar panels, wind blades, smartphones, computers, televisions, residential and commercial buildings, pharmaceuticals, missiles, fighter planes, clothing, soap, shampoo, shoes, clean drinking water and crop fertilizer are all "modern miracles" made possible by chemical manufacturing.
The most utilized starting atoms, or "feedstocks," for chemical manufacturing are hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, natural gas, natural gas liquids and coal, otherwise known as fossil fuels. Without abundant access to these feedstocks, nobody can manufacture chemicals. Without chemicals, virtually all U.S. manufacturing would cease.
The scientists and engineers in the American chemical sector go to work in laboratories across the country and aim to improve existing molecules and develop new ones. When commercially viable, laboratory innovation moves to manufacturing plants and into the marketplace. While abstract to the average person, that molecular innovation ultimately manifests itself in lighter airplanes and cars, longer lasting clothes, stronger building materials, clean drinking water, new medicines and cancer treatments and larger crop yields. Human lives are enriched and lengthened through chemical sector innovation.
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How Things Are Made
I am increasingly concerned that many government and business leaders lack an understanding of how "things" are made. In the post-Cold War era of globalization, the United States underwent a low-level form of deindustrialization as the appeal of cheap labor and growth markets in Asia pushed supply chains out of North America. Two examples of this can be seen in the fate of the Pennsylvania steel industry and textiles in North Carolina in the 1990s and 2000s, and there have been countless others. Wall Street became the highest paying sector. It was then followed by Silicon Valley and the tech boom. Quite simply, "making things" went out of vogue because it was done "out of sight and out of mind." Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, I believe the post-Cold War manufacturing exodus led many policymakers and business leaders to simply forget how things are manufactured at the most basic molecular level or, as we say in the chemical industry, "upstream." This trend is best encapsulated by Apple's famous "Designed in California Assembled in China" label on their products. To most people, the iPhone is a supercomputer we use every few seconds connecting us to the entire world. As a chemical industry leader, I see a device consisting of minerals and elements extracted from the Earth and refined thousands of times over into chemicals, plastic, glass, and materials brought to market via one of the most sophisticated supply chains ever developed. The same is true of millions of other products we use in our daily lives.
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Essential to The American Way of Life
One of the biggest threats to American power, security and prosperity is the belief that we can choose not to extract our natural resources and convert them into the materials that enable our citizenry to thrive. Since the beginning of recorded history to the modern-day international system, human beings and nation states have used natural resources to survive, prosper, trade and project power. This has been an invariable part of human nature and will always be so.
In the current policy, political and business arenas, opposition to natural resource extraction manifests itself in the idea that American society - and the world - can somehow "transition" away from fossil fuels and their derivative materials, including chemicals, and somehow maintain our way of life. Until the advent of new technology or a massive expansion of nuclear power, this is simply untrue and not physically possible. To believe so is both naive and dangerous. Serious countries and people understand this reality.
Until relatively recently, the notion that we could eliminate fossil fuels while still sustaining modern society was mostly a fringe idea and dismissed by serious leaders in government and industry Over the last two decades, as seemingly well-intentioned policy proposals developed to attempt to manage an ever-changing climate, anti-fossil fuel extraction policy has become normalized in Europe and, more recently, in the United States. Many governments have organized themselves around stopping natural resource extraction in the name of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to "net zero." In the business community, many companies have made "commitments" that may (or may not) come to reality in less than three decades.
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European Deindustrialization
The most notable example of the danger of "net zero" government policy is Germany. Through a series of government decisions over two decades and exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany has chosen to embark on a once-in-a-century deindustrialization that will have enormous global impacts, including in the United States.
Just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable that the birthplace of the chemical industry could be deindustrializing. Yet here we are, waiting to see whether one of the most advanced economies and societies in modern history will be able to provide cheap, reliable, and abundant heat and electricity to power its economy. I encourage all U.S. elected officials to study deeply the policy decisions Germany made as it presents a real-life example of how not to organize electricity, manufacturing, natural resource, energy, and industrial policy.
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The Chemical Sector Improves Lives and Lowers Emissions
If the goal of government and business is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across society, U.S. government policy and regulation should be calibrated to increase natural resource extraction and chemical manufacturing more efficiently and productively. It is the chemical sector that develops the molecules and the innovations that allow individuals and society collectively to lower their emissions. This is evident in almost every sector across the economy. In the aerospace sector, fossil fuel-derived carbon composite airplanes fly longer distances using less fuel than their aluminum predecessors. Automobiles are constructed using carbon fiber material versus steel in years past. Modern homes include insulation materials that create a building envelope, securing the valuable hot and cold air inside the home. The world population recently reached 8 billion people and, for the most part, everyone has access to food. The mass starvation that we witnessed as recently as the mid-1980's in sub-Saharan Africa is virtually obsolete. This is a new phenomenon in human history and has been made possible only by chemical fertilizer and cold chain storage. Simply stated, a vibrant chemical industry means it is within our ability to lower emissions, grow the economy, and improve lives.
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The Chemical Industry Welcomes Strong, Predictable and Risk Based Regulation
The United States has the strongest most effective environmental laws governing clean air and water in the world. It was not always that way and our industry has made mistakes. However, when you compare the environment in the developed world today to even 1980, the progress is staggering. The water in the Potomac River, the air in Los Angeles and our rivers and streams are all cleaner. This is due to the combination of strong government regulation, corporations being held legally accountable for wrongdoing and because wealthy nations have the financial resources to prioritize the environment. The more prosperous a society becomes, the better it can manage the environment.
Every single day the chemical sector manufactures, handles, stores, transports and sells hazardous materials across the world. To deliver the products that make modern life possible does incur risk. We spend billions of dollars on environmental, health and safety of our employees and in the communities where we operate. Safety is a deeply ingrained value and our license to operate. In my 40 years in the industry, I can state unequivocally that we have greatly improved our safety record. Our safety record demonstrates we constantly strive to learn and improve as a company and industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can effectively protect human health and the environment while supporting American innovation and strengthening the American economy. This was the intent of Congress when it passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It is essential that regulations under TSCA be science-based and risk-based. This requires a balance of hazards and real-world exposure scenarios. EPA must use the most relevant current science information, adhere to scientific standards, and consider safety protocols that are already in place.
We have seen what happens when EPA deviates from this approach. EPA's reviews of new chemicals are taking far longer than the 90-day timeframe required in the law, thereby creating uncertainty in the marketplace. Without a clear understanding of how long it will take to bring a new chemical to market, companies will either not innovate or introduce the product outside of America. This is a clear barrier to innovation.
Likewise, TSCA evaluations of existing chemicals have taken an overly conservative approach, not based on real world risks. This has led to unnecessary bans and highly restrictive regulations that are well outside the range of the rest of the world. This approach risks the availability of critical chemistries that are needed to power our economy and keep America safe.
To demonstrate the effect of unpredictable regulation, I would use the example of Huntsman's aerospace adhesives business. We have decades of experience in developing and marketing high performance adhesives which are widely used in aircraft interiors and structures, both civil and military. In recent years, many of these regulatory changes have stemmed from overstated or overly conservative risk assessments, driving repeated reclassifications that force unnecessary reformulation and retesting. Today, we spend as much time reformulating existing products as developing new ones, due to constant changes in chemical classifications. When products are reformulated, they often then need to undergo rigorous, costly testing by our aerospace customers to ensure their performance on aircraft. This process often takes longer to complete than the time window available to implement chemical classification changes. In some cases, where the regulatory burden is too high, products can be withdrawn, leaving a gap in the market and no obvious replacements. The constant need to address regulatory changes reduces the time and investment available for innovation and creates significant uncertainties for aerospace companies whose aircraft production lifecycles last decades.
For example, a UV absorber is an additive that protects aircraft parts from damage caused by UV and sunlight. This product was recently placed on Annex A of the Stockholm Convention. As a result, European regulators have effectively banned its use by 2030. In the U.S., the absorber is not currently regulated because we have not ratified the Convention. However, since both the chemical and aerospace industries operate globally, we must eliminate its use worldwide and undertake costly reformulation and testing to meet aerospace requirements. A downstream impact of this regulation is that the recycling industry no longer accepts end-of-life aircraft parts that may contain this additive, as they cannot verify whether concentrations are below one part per million. As a result, these parts are not being recycled and are instead accumulating in the environment -- adding unnecessary complexity, cost, and creating unintended consequences for the industry's efforts toward circularity.
Congress has the opportunity between now and next year to fix these problems and provide durability through a provision built into the Lautenberg Amendments to review the law after 10 years. There is bipartisan recognition on this Committee that the EPA has done a poor job getting new, safe, environmentally sound chemistries into commerce. Congress can review the Lautenberg Amendments in targeted provisions to ensure EPA is meeting its statutory deadlines by approving new chemistries for their intended purposes or "conditions of use" in the language of the statute. Congress can ensure existing chemical regulations are based on risk and actual exposure rather than theoretical assumptions.
Such a policy solution won't see-saw depending on who is in office. This type of certainty will not only help manufacturers make investment decisions but will benefit the general public by encouraging innovation that will bring safer and more sustainable chemicals to the market.
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Looking Ahead
I am highly optimistic about the future. The United States, with its combination of freedom, capitalism, scientific inquiry, deep capital markets, legal protection, and entrepreneurial spirit, possesses the power to solve humanity's problems. As the geopolitical tides churn and countries reassess their priorities in a more dangerous world, regionalized supply chains will take precedence.
Government policy around natural resources, self-sufficiency and manufacturing have returned to the forefront of policymaking. Industrial policy, regulatory decisions and capital expenditures made today by government and business leaders will impact America and the world for generations to come. We don't need to look far to see the damaging impact of bad public policy around natural resources, energy, electricity, chemicals, and material innovation.
History shows that such policy decisions determine the fate of nations and societies.
I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f/5/f53fd4f1-cda6-40f1-962a-0697f719ed67/48C7B24F997C1AF82ADB757BDD5D79C7294661792CC8F1B7E0FD96E11B17D788.10-23-2025-huntsman-testimony.pdf
Boeing Senior Technical Fellow Gross Testifies Before Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight released the following written testimony by Gwen Gross, senior technical fellow at Boeing, from an Oct. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals":* * *
Good morning, Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, Chairman Curtis, Ranking Member Merkley, and members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
I am Dr. Gwen Gross, a Senior Technical Fellow at Boeing for Composites ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight released the following written testimony by Gwen Gross, senior technical fellow at Boeing, from an Oct. 23, 2025, hearing entitled "Examining the Beneficial Use and Regulation of Chemicals": * * * Good morning, Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, Chairman Curtis, Ranking Member Merkley, and members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Dr. Gwen Gross, a Senior Technical Fellow at Boeing for Compositesand Chemical Technology. Prior to joining Boeing, I completed my doctoral studies at the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry at the University of Washington.
I serve as a chief chemist within Boeing's advanced research and development organization. I am an expert in formulation and production of aerospace critical organic materials. I have worked the complete lifecycle of materials integration from idea to implementation, and as an intermediary between Boeing and our suppliers.
Boeing proudly develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems. As the largest manufacturing exporter in America, Boeing supports more than a million American jobs, contributes $97 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and partners with nearly 10,000 businesses across all 50 states. Approximately eighty percent of Boeing's supply chain spending and eighty-five percent of its workforce are based in the United States, while approximately eighty percent of our commercial aircraft production is exported to international customers.
Safety and quality are at the core of everything we do. Boeing is committed to complying with environmental laws and regulations and continually improving our environmental, health, and safety systems, while also creating economic opportunities and driving industry innovation.
Boeing is a downstream user of chemicals. We do not manufacture the chemical formulations that we use. Instead, as we develop new, innovative aerospace products and services, we rely on our chemical suppliers to develop and bring forward new chemical technologies that may meet our stringent performance requirements. Those suppliers are responsible for obtaining Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) approvals for new chemicals or new chemical uses, and any delays they experience in obtaining those approvals, delay the aerospace innovations that Boeing is working every day to advance Once promising candidate chemical products are offered, we thoroughly evaluate them to ensure they will meet our performance requirements, as well as those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and military specifications, and can be safely incorporated into our manufacturing processes and product design. Boeing uses chemical materials in a variety of ways in its products, including composites, sealants, adhesives, and specialty coatings.
The aerospace industry faces unique challenges when it comes to chemical material use and replacement due to complex FAA certification requirements and military specifications that govern our products and services. The FAA's rigorous and lengthy certification process is integral to aviation safety. This process includes consideration of the performance of the chemicals used in a commercial aircraft's design, including its component parts.
Let me provide an example of what this means for the chemical materials used in commercial airplanes. Appropriately, Boeing must demonstrate that materials are both suitable for the application they are being used in and that they are also durable, including under the environmental conditions where they will be used. In practice, that means polymeric materials, like the carbon fiber composite materials used for wings, that sit in the hot sun on the runway in Phoenix, Arizona in July, must be capable of equal performance at 30,000 feet in sub-freezing temperatures. And it must be able to go through that cycle under such variable conditions multiple times a day for potentially decades.
Finding a replacement for a chemical used in the formulation of such a resilient composite system can be a challenging and lengthy process that includes identification, testing, and qualification of alternative formulations developed by our suppliers. Even when this is complete, Boeing must then comply with necessary FAA regulations for drawing changes, first part qualifications, part certification testing, and performance metrics before that new composite formulation can be incorporated into an airplane that will be delivered to an airline. All of this is incredibly time consuming. For example, I began working on a new candidate for a next generation carbon fiber composite material when my daughter was two years old. Boeing is just now finishing the qualification on that material and my daughter is now eighteen.
As a result, if regulatory changes impacting chemical material use and replacement or changes in the chemical marketplace happen too fast, aerospace companies may not have sufficient time to find viable replacements and to demonstrate that they satisfy all of our regulatory and contractual requirements. It is important that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) chemical management framework take into account this complex and lengthy process, which includes FAA requirements that are integral to aviation safety.
Aerospace manufacturers are also impacted by delays in new chemical reviews and restrictions on new chemicals. A recent example is the replacement of fire suppression chemicals used onboard aircraft. Fire suppression is critical to safety of flight, and Boeing has devoted considerable time and resources to developing alternatives to the industry standard agent, halon. Halon is an ozone depleting substance that remains in wide use in the industry due to its unique performance attributes that have proven difficult to replicate. In low concentrations, halon is very effective at extinguishing a variety of fire types, including liquids and electronics. In addition, it is acceptable for use in occupied spaces, and safe to use on sensitive aerospace equipment.
Boeing worked closely for over 20 years with our suppliers to develop the halon replacement 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (2-BTP) for use as a fire extinguishing agent for use onboard aircraft. As a new chemical, 2-BTP received EPA approvals under TSCA as well as its Significant New Alternatives Policy Program as a replacement for an ozone depleting substance.
Approximately eight years ago, the FAA certified it for handheld extinguisher use in aircraft cabins and the flight deck where it is deployed globally today. However, the approvals limited its use in other aircraft applications, such as in cargo holds. Notwithstanding the findings that this halon replacement compound was found to be acceptable for use around passengers and crew, it is still not yet approved for cargo.
Boeing has also experienced challenges when evaluating new chemicals under the TSCA exemption for research and development (R&D). Boeing supports that exemption because it allows Boeing to evaluate novel chemical materials early in their development cycle to determine suitability for new aircraft applications needed for our future aircraft. However, reliance on the R&D exemption introduces regulatory uncertainty into Boeing's technology development process, which operates on a multi-year timeline to ensure that once mature, a new chemical technology will meet both performance and certification requirements.
If there is uncertainty whether an R&D chemical will be approved by EPA in time to meet internal milestones for certification of a future aircraft, then our researchers may choose to exclude that candidate chemical early in the development process and choose one that is already approved by EPA. This reduces risk to the certification schedule for our future aircraft, but at the cost of potentially significant improvements to that aircraft model's performance. The impact of these decisions can be far reaching.
For example, not utilizing a new R&D epoxy resin for a composite material could result in an alternative material being selected at the cost of additional weight being added to the aircraft's certified design. Over the decades long lifetime of that airplane, even small weight increases can result in significant increases in fuel consumption, emissions, and operating costs for our customers. As a result, the uncertainty in the timing of EPA authorizing R&D chemicals for full scale production has long-term consequences. Boeing would welcome regulatory changes to give aircraft manufacturers more certainty early in our development process that R&D exempt chemicals will obtain timely EPA decisions for use in aerospace production.
In closing, thank you again for the opportunity to speak with you about how the current regulatory environment for chemicals impacts the aerospace industry. I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/7/b/7b0613f7-70e6-486f-84a8-f765bf41e676/D5DCA02C13039A0782535D628023C77C9C5CAB13DF8EE629E39C74A3A1D8492E.10-23-2025-gross-testimony.pdf
America First Policy Institute Executive VP Wolf Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution released the following testimony by Chad F. Wolf, executive vice president, chief strategy officer and chair of the Homeland Security and Immigration Center at the America First Policy Institute, from an Oct. 28, 2025, hearing entitled "Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order":* * *
Thank you, Chairman Schmitt and Ranking Member Welch, for the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee today.
On September 4, 2020, violent opportunists and anarchists had done the unthinkable - reaching 100 ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution released the following testimony by Chad F. Wolf, executive vice president, chief strategy officer and chair of the Homeland Security and Immigration Center at the America First Policy Institute, from an Oct. 28, 2025, hearing entitled "Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order": * * * Thank you, Chairman Schmitt and Ranking Member Welch, for the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee today. On September 4, 2020, violent opportunists and anarchists had done the unthinkable - reaching 100consecutive nights of violent protests in Portland, Oregon. These protests were defined by repeated violent attacks on federal law enforcement, civilians, journalists, and federal property. Night after night, hundreds of people would surround the Hatfield Federal Courthouse with the intention of vandalizing and setting fire to it. When law enforcement responded, officers would be assaulted with mortar-style commercial grade fireworks, accelerants, IEDs, sledgehammers, concrete, and slingshots.
At that time, I pleaded with local elected officials - including the Governor and mayor of Portland - to support DHS officers to ensure their safety. Time and again, they refused. They chose politics over public safety, and the results were devastating. Over 280 injuries to law enforcement officers and millions of dollars in damages to the federal courthouse, local private property and businesses.
Back then, nationally elected officials and media personalities smeared law enforcement officers. They called law enforcement professionals "stormtroopers," the "Gestapo" and "thugs." They were comparing our law enforcement to America's historical adversaries.
Unfortunately, I see this pattern and rhetoric repeating itself today - but exacerbated. Similar violence toward law enforcement and similar and irresponsible rhetoric from those on the left describing law enforcement as Nazis. The difference between 2020 and now, however, is that President Trump and his administration know what to expect and are fighting aggressively to hold those who are committing violent attacks accountable.
I strongly support those who lawfully exercise their Constitutional rights, including our First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. But we need to draw a clear line in the sand and protect our communities and our institutions by holding criminals accountable for their actions.
Today, we see radical, violent groups - like Antifa - who are organized and well-funded. They plan, they execute, and they purposefully operate in undetectable corners of the internet.
Those who oppose cracking down on violent anarchists often argue that President Trump was wrong to designate them as domestic terrorists because they lack formal structure, leadership, or governance.
This criticism completely misses the point. Their lack of formal structure is a feature - not a bug. They operate this way precisely to evade law enforcement and accountability, and they are proving to be effective with this strategy. This decentralized model is not novel -- it mirrors tactics used by other modern extremist or criminal networks.
Whether or not an individual self-identifies as "antifa" is not the only data point. Much like ISIS-inspired attacks in America, these activists do largely share a cohesive ideology that expressly advocates violence to achieve political or social ends. That squarely fits the federal statutory definition of domestic terrorism. Jihadists, cybercriminals, and other criminal networks also lack formal leadership structure but nonetheless are targeted by law enforcement.
But don't take my word for it. Let the activists speak for themselves.
Just last weekend, protestors called for ICE agents to be "shot" and "wiped out". Another protestor said he'd kill a high-ranking government official if given the chance. Over the Summer of 2025, there have been numerous antifascist-inspired attacks on law enforcement, journalists, and citizens - most tragically with the sickening and heartbreaking assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The bullet casing left behind by Charlie's killer echoed the violent rhetoric we often hear at these protests and riots - rhetoric that targets law enforcement, in particular immigration enforcement officials.
Additionally, recent polling has revealed a concerning trend of radicalization - especially amongst younger and liberal Americans - to justify political violence. According to a 2025 Rutgers University poll, a majority of left of center Americans stated it would be at least somewhat justified to murder President Trump or Elon Musk. Nearly 60% of those same Americans believed destroying a Tesla dealership in protest would be at least somewhat justified. A 2025 YouGov poll found that - amongst those who consider themselves "very liberal" - 25% (one in four) believe that violence can be justified to achieve a political goal. That represents five times the number of very conservative Americans when asked the same question.
The evidence is clear: young, liberal Americans are increasingly justifying, and partaking in, violence to achieve political goals. And those beliefs are what we're witnessing play out in real time on the streets of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Portland, and other cities across the country.
Let me state this as clearly as I can: the lawful enforcement of immigration policies passed by the U.S. Congress nearly 60 years ago is no way, shape, or form fascist. If it were, then every single country on earth - no matter the political leadership - would be considered fascist by their definition. Terms like "fascism" are thrown around with reckless abandon, and the number of victims is increasing by the day. The increasingly violent nature of this rhetoric is contributing to the threat environment for journalists, commuters, state, local, and federal law enforcement officers, and it must stop - especially when we're talking about elected officials.
My colleagues and I at the America First Policy Institute have spent years advocating for freedom of speech, and against government-sponsored censorship. But what we are seeing play out day after day is not a form of peaceful protest. Destroying property and violently targeting those who they disagree with is not peaceful protest. Harassing, doxxing, or threatening law enforcement is not peaceful protest. Attacking journalists is not peaceful protest. These actions are the antithesis of freedom of speech. Violence, of any kind and perpetrated by any ideology, can never be equated to lawful protest. Our country's dedication to enshrining freedom of speech into our Constitution is designed to avoid violence - not encourage it.
To address a public safety threat, it's critical to admit that it's a threat in the first place. I implore lawmakers to read the data. Federal immigration and border security law enforcement is facing a 1000% increase in threats, harassment, and doxxing. We owe it to them - and their families - to face these active threats with the seriousness they deserve.
The rise in radical political violence our Nation has experienced in recent years is an undeniable threat to law and order and presents a uniquely challenging issue for law enforcement to face. Thankfully, the Trump Administration, along with members of Congress, are acting swiftly. At the America First Policy Institute, we proudly support many of these policies - but the work has only just begun.
We must continue to give federal law enforcement the resources they need to do their job effectively. We must allow ICE to do their job; as well as enter local jails, courthouses, and other facilities which provide safer environments for the officers and the migrants. We must oppose any legislative attempt to undermine the privacy and safety of federal law enforcement. We must robustly prosecute and increase criminal penalties for assaulting, harassing, or doxxing federal law enforcement. We must leverage joint taskforces and interdepartmental working groups to share intelligence and conduct operations. We must continue investigating and targeting groups that conduct these protests. The DOJ and FBI should use prosecutorial options - such as sentencing enhancements. We must protect courageous journalists who are doing the work that the mainstream media won't do in covering these protests. But perhaps most importantly, elected officials must be honest with the American people about public safety threats.
It is a core responsibility of governmental bodies to protect our sworn officers, journalists, and all Americans from any form of political violence that is showing no signs of slowing down. We owe it to fathers and mothers, we owe it to Erika Kirk, and we owe it to every family who has lost a loved one to political violence, to ensure that their calls for accountability and action are finally answered.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/4a3850cc-9186-4271-fe98-9caebcd5b632/2025-10-28-PM_Testimony_Wolf.pdf
Alaska Federation of Natives President Mallott Testifies Before Senate Indian Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The Senate Indian Affairs Committee released the following written testimony by Alaska Federation of Natives President Ben Mallott from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Impacts of Government Shutdowns and Agency Reductions in Force on Native Communities":* * *
I. Introduction
Chairman Murkowski, Vice Chairman Schatz, and members of the Committee:
Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today regarding the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown and agency reductions in force on our Alaska Native communities. I would like to offer a special thank you ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The Senate Indian Affairs Committee released the following written testimony by Alaska Federation of Natives President Ben Mallott from an Oct. 29, 2025, hearing entitled "Impacts of Government Shutdowns and Agency Reductions in Force on Native Communities": * * * I. Introduction Chairman Murkowski, Vice Chairman Schatz, and members of the Committee: Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today regarding the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown and agency reductions in force on our Alaska Native communities. I would like to offer a special thank youto Senator Murkowski for her leadership in advocating for Alaska and for the Alaska Native people.
My name is Ben Mallott, and I serve as the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). AFN is the largest statewide Alaska Native organization. Our membership includes over 140,000 Alaska Natives and their institutions set up to serve our people. AFN's membership includes federally recognized tribes, regional tribal consortiums, regional non-profit organizations, and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) village and regional corporations.
Many of our tribal organizations have worked hard to position themselves to weather the impacts of a shutdown. Alaska Native entities receiving federal assistance engage in best practices to prepare for and utilize all available funding prior to a lapse in federal appropriations to keep our programs stable and our operations uninterrupted to the greatest extent possible during a shutdown. But when a shutdown drags on for a prolonged period, there is little we can do to keep the impacts to our organizations and communities at bay. Tomorrow we will hit the critical 30-day mark of the shutdown, and our organizations will be facing difficult realities and decisions about the ability to carry out certain programs and whether tribal staff must be laid off. A prolonged shutdown places many Alaska Native entities and communities in a difficult and potentially life-threatening position. So please keep in mind that the impacts I raise today will continue to grow until the shutdown ends.
II. Impacts of the Federal Government Shutdown and RIFs
a. Disaster Recovery for Western Alaska
I would be remiss if I did not start my remarks by acknowledging that our communities in Western Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are still reeling from the devastating impacts of Typhoon Halong, which struck our state on October 12. Disaster recovery in this region is unlike other regions in our country. These communities are remote with no access to roads and are hundreds of miles from cities to where these residents must evacuate. Both short and long-term recovery efforts are complex, and reliable communication with federal agencies assisting in disaster recovery like FEMA is essential. While the federal government is working on immediate response to Typhoon Halong, the shutdown creates further complications and uncertainties for our communities in the region devasted by the Typhoon. Many of the people forced to evacuate the region now face a lengthy recovery process that will require substantial engagement with the federal government. Any delay or confusion caused by the shutdown adds a tremendous burden to our already hurting people in the region. Relief efforts are being supported by federal employees working without pay. We appreciate these workers' vital contributions, and we want to see them be paid for their work, including back pay for their unpaid work these past few weeks.
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Threats to Food and Heat Availability and Assistance
We are deeply concerned about the impacts of the shutdown and its implications for food availability and assistance in Alaska. From the Federal Subsistence Board to SNAP benefits, the shutdown is threatening the availability of food in our Alaska Native communities. This is compounded by the fact that winter is upon us in Alaska. As temperatures approach 0 degrees up north, a gallon of milk is $13. Our people are about to be in the very real situation of having to pick between food and heat.
Our people rely heavily on subsistence to feed our families and to fill freezers to get through the long, dark winters. Subsistence activities on federal lands are managed through the Interior Department's Federal Subsistence Board, which has canceled its Regional Advisory Committee meetings across the state in October. These meetings are critically important for governance of the subsistence system our rural Alaska Native communities depend on to survive.
SNAP benefits expire on Friday, and it will have a devastating impact in Alaska. SNAP serves approximately 66,000 Alaskans, including thousands of Alaska Native peoples who live in remote or economically disadvantaged regions. The State of Alaska has confirmed that due to the federal shutdown, November benefits will not be issued to SNAP recipients, removing a critical food security lifeline for families and individuals. The loss of SNAP benefits will deepen food insecurity and threaten the well-being of Alaska Native elders, children, and families. Further, the lack of SNAP benefits will overwhelm informal food assistance programs or organizations, such as food banks, in communities where they exist, to say nothing of the impacts for communities where they do not exist.
The shutdown will also pose a threat to vulnerable households across the state that rely on federal assistance for heating their homes, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). New funding for the LIHEAP program will be unavailable during the shutdown, undermining a critical support system for Alaska Native families and elders during harsh winter conditions. At least one Alaska Native housing authority had to tell their community members that while they will take new LIHEAP applications during the shutdown, payments are on hold until the shutdown ends.
A continued shutdown will force too many Alaska Native families, elders, and people to choose between basic human needs such as food or home heating during the winter months.
b. Lack of Consultation
Lack of federal employees carrying out federal agency actions and responsibilities compromises the government's legal requirements to engage in meaningful consultation with Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. Internal agency training and education is an essential part of building the right agency talent and capacity to engage in meaningful consultation, especially in Alaska, where additional training is required to educate agency professionals about the unique status of Native land and the unique and diverse systems of Native governance in Alaska. It often takes years for the right relationships to be built. Simply put, reductions in workforce at both the regional and headquarters levels compromise the ability of federal agencies to meet their consultation obligations.
And during a shutdown--especially one as long as the current lapse in appropriations--there is essentially no path for our communities to engage in real discussions with agency personnel making key decisions affecting our livelihoods. For example, as mentioned above, the Federal Subsistence Board is canceling or delaying its Regional Advisory Committee meetings across the state in October, which are critically important for governance of the subsistence system our rural Alaska Native communities depend on to survive.
c. Impacts to Health Care
While other witnesses today will speak more on the impacts of the shutdown on Tribal health, I want to share with you concerns raised by Alaska Native health care providers.
We deeply appreciate Congress providing the Indian Health Service (IHS) advance appropriations. This has been very helpful to insulate IHS programs from the government shutdown. However, there are a number of Tribal health programs and services that are not included in the advance appropriations that are being affected. While Tribes have been paid health services and other related funding, they have not been paid contract support costs, 105(l) lease payments, or certain other facility services that are needed to support health operations. Contract support costs help fund the administrative and overhead costs associated with carrying out health services. The 105(l) lease payments help to fund maintenance and improvement activities for health facilities. These types of payments are not being processed during the shutdown under a lapse in appropriations.
The shutdown also impacts other aspects of Tribal health. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Tribal Technical Advisory Group (CMS TTAG) may have to cancel its upcoming meeting if the shutdown is still in effect. The TTAG is an important advisory body to the CMS Administrator providing expertise on CMS policies, guidelines, and programmatic issues affecting IHS and Tribal health programs. Medicaid is one of these extremely important programs, which provides from 40-60 percent of funding for IHS and Tribal programs. This upcoming meeting is very important for the TTAG since they are working with CMS to develop operational guidance and recommendations to implement several Tribal provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
III. Conclusion
Thank you again for inviting me to speak today. I look forward to answering any questions you may have about our Alaska Native communities and the shutdown impacts discussed here today.
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Original text here: https://www.indian.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/1.29.2025-Testimony-Mallott.pdf