The House is heading into a pivotal week that could shape the future of veterans’ services, federal spending, and President Donald Trump’s broader domestic agenda. VA Secretary Doug Collins will be on the Hill again this week, testifying before the House Appropriations and House VA Committees on Thursday. With tensions already high, the Secretary’s return is expected to spark continued debate — we encourage everyone to tune in.

We’re also excited to announce the upcoming launch of Nimitz Health, our newest publication focused on healthcare policy. If you or someone you know is interested in subscribing and receiving the first update, click here.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• VA’s budget requests for FY 2026 & 2027: Sec. Collins is back in the hot seat

• Post-game evaluation: Examining Trump’s executive order for the VA

• Staffing concerns not going away soon: VA leaders maintain their course while lawmakers and veterans sound the alarm

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Wednesday, May 14th

• 💰 Subcommittee Hearing: “Waste & Delays: Examining VA’s Improper Payments in its Compensation and Pension Programs,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee at 10:15 am. Watch here.

• 🎖️ HillVets Valor & Vision Event at 6pm. More information can be found here.

Thursday, May 15th

• 💵 Subcommittee Hearing: “Budget Hearing – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies at 10 am. Watch here.

• 💵 Full Committee Hearing: “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 Advance Appropriations,” HVAC at 2 pm. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

House Republicans are preparing for a pivotal week of legislative action as they work to advance President Trump’s sweeping domestic agenda. Though internal divisions threaten to slow progress, key House committees — Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce — are set to begin marathon hearings on Tuesday to debate tax and Medicaid provisions. Disagreements over the SALT deduction cap and Medicaid reform remain unresolved. House Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass the full package by next week, but that timeline depends heavily on the outcome of these committee markups.

At his hearing last week, VA Secretary Doug Collins testified that workforce reductions are part of a broader plan to boost efficiency through technology upgrades. He pointed to automation and modernized IT systems, supported by increased funding, as tools to streamline operations amid rising demands from legislation like the PACT Act and VA MISSION Act. Secretary Collins and lawmakers like SVAC Chairman Jerry Moran also discussed improving mental health care access and collaborating with the Department of Defense (DOD) and nonprofits to address other persistent gaps. The Secretary will appear before the House this week to share the department’s budget request for FY 2026 and 2027.

Veteran News

President Trump has signed an executive order directing the VA to expand veterans’ services by building new facilities in California and New Hampshire, reducing healthcare wait times, and increasing firings of underperforming employees. The West Los Angeles project aims to house 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028, while New Hampshire may finally receive its first full-service VA medical center — though funding and timelines remain unclear. The order also revives controversial disciplinary policies and calls for the reevaluation of past court rulings that protected VA employees. While department leaders and some lawmakers are praising the reforms, key implementation details are lacking.

More than 11,000 VA employees have applied for deferred resignation under a Trump administration plan to reduce the VA workforce by 15%, raising concerns from lawmakers and veterans organizations about the impact on veteran care. Despite assurances from Secretary Collins that frontline healthcare will not be affected, key roles like nurses, medical support assistants, and social workers top the list of applicants. Advocates have questioned how the VA can maintain care quality amid staff cuts, especially given ongoing provider shortages and high concern among veterans about losing access to benefits and services.

A Missouri man has been charged with 11 counts of fraud and theft after concealing the death of his Army veteran uncle to illegally collect more than $650,000 in VA and Social Security benefits. Authorities allege that the man severely neglected his uncle, a disabled veteran suffering from dementia and quadriplegia, by keeping him in inhumane conditions before his death in 2019. He allegedly continued collecting his uncle’s benefits for years, spending the money on luxury vacations and exotic pets. Federal officials claim that the case reflects serious abuse of veteran benefit programs and vowed continued efforts to bring perpetrators of such fraud to justice.

National News

On Sunday, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole reported that he does not expect a debt limit suspension this year. He was responding to comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who warned Congress that federal funds could run out by August and urged lawmakers to act by mid-July to avoid financial disruption. Republicans are considering raising the debt ceiling through budget reconciliation, a method that would allow them to pass it without Democratic support as part of a broader package advancing President Trump’s agenda. Secretary Bessent cautioned that delays could rattle markets, increase borrowing costs, and undermine confidence in the government’s financial stability. Chairman Cole, however, maintained that the GOP will likely only use the debt limit as a bargaining chip for reform discussions.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

The Boulder Crest Foundation, a remarkable nonprofit and valued Nimitz Group client, will celebrate the grand opening of its third national location this weekend. Our team is excited to travel to Texas to join the festivities at the Eagle Oak Retreat. For more information on Boulder Crest Texas, click here.

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