When Secretary Doug Collins told Newsmax’s “Wake Up America” that the VA’s pledge is to “put the veteran first” he meant business — and hardworking Americans should be relieved to see a Cabinet official actually keep his promises. Collins has made clear that his mission is to cut the nonsense, restore mission-critical services, and make sure every veteran gets the care they earned from day one of their service.
This isn’t empty rhetoric. The VA under Collins is shifting resources by eliminating hundreds of non-mission positions and redirecting savings into health care and benefits, while aggressively recruiting for vital roles that actually serve veterans. That’s the kind of accountability and focus our veterans deserve instead of the paper-pushing, check-the-box culture that grew under prior leadership.
Make no mistake — the move to trim fat and cut waste has critics, but the alternative is to let bloated bureaucracy stand between a veteran and a timely appointment or benefits decision. Reports show plans to streamline the workforce substantially, a necessary step to return the VA to doing what it exists to do: serve veterans, not serve as a federal jobs program. Conservatives should cheer a return to common-sense stewardship of taxpayer dollars and veteran care.
Collins also didn’t mince words for the press when rumors and fear-mongering threatened to confuse veterans about their benefits and care. He confronted reporters who peddled unverified claims, rightly insisting that scaring veterans and employees with falsehoods is unacceptable and dangerous for those who rely on the VA’s services. In an era of media narratives that prioritize headlines over facts, leadership that defends veterans from misinformation is a blessing.
The secretary has been unambiguous about the concrete problems that still plague the system: homelessness, suicide, and backlog issues remain top priorities that require focused action, not spin. Collins has pledged to update records systems, reduce wait times, and ensure veterans are not forced to beg elected officials for benefits they already earned — steps that reflect real empathy, not performative politics. Veterans and their families are watching, and they deserve results, not excuses.
Patriots who care about veterans should support this kind of reformist conservatism: cut the waste, protect core services, and hold bureaucrats accountable while expanding care for those who served. If Washington wants to prove it values our armed forces, it will back leaders who are willing to make tough decisions and put veterans ahead of agendas and bureaucracy. That’s exactly what Collins says he’s doing — and it’s time to let substance beat spin.
