Congress is bracing for a political storm on multiple fronts this week. With Senate Majority Leader John Thune threatening to cancel the July 4 recess to push through President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and lawmakers deeply divided over the recent U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites, both domestic and foreign policy are under the spotlight.

On the veterans front, VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed plans to “right-size” the agency while defending controversial changes to anti-discrimination bylaws. Meanwhile, Democratic veterans in Congress are demanding a vote on military action in Iran, and a Marine Corps veteran’s immigration battle has reignited concerns over support for military families under evolving federal policy. As always, the Nimitz team is here to keep you informed every step of the way.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• Senate plans to stay put: Majority Leader Thune threatens to keep chamber in session to pass the “big, beautiful bill”

• Veteran Democrats push back on Iran attacks: House members pen letter to the White House

• VA moves forward with “right-sizing” efforts: Secretary Doug Collins confirms plans to reduce its workforce

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, June 24th

• 💪 Full Committee Hearing: “Strengthening the Transition Assistance Program: Exploring Outcomes to Improve the Transition to Civilian Life,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) at 10:15 am. Watch here.

• 💰 Subcommittee Hearing: “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Senate Appropriations Committee, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee at 10:30 am. Watch here.

• 📝 Subcommittee Hearing: “Hearing on Pending Legislation,” HVAC Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee at 1:15 pm. Watch here.

Wednesday, June 25th

• ☎️ Committee Hearing: “Correcting Mismanagement of the Veterans Crisis Line,” Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) at 4 pm. Watch here.

Thursday, June 26th

• ⭐ Gold Star Spouses of America Congressional Reception: At 6 pm. Reach out to our team directly for more information.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced today that the Senate will remain in session until it passes President Trump’s sweeping tax cut bill, potentially canceling the July 4 recess. The move underscores the GOP’s urgency to deliver Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” by Independence Day, though internal party divisions are slowing progress. Conservatives are objecting to the lack of spending cuts, while moderates are pushing back on provisions related to Medicaid and renewable energy incentives. The House will remain out next week and will wait to act until the Senate finalizes the bill.

The House returned to Washington to face sharp divisions over President Trump’s recent strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and the GOP’s sweeping tax and spending bill, intensifying pressure ahead of the July 4 deadline. Lawmakers are split over the legality and wisdom of the Iran attack, with a bipartisan briefing scheduled for Tuesday to address concerns over executive authority. The chamber is set to begin fiscal year 2026 appropriations work this week, starting with the Military Construction and VA bill, as broader funding debates loom.

Veteran News

A dozen Democratic veteran lawmakers sent a letter to the White House urging that Congress vote on any further military actions against Iran, warning against repeating the “mistakes” of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The letter, led by Rep. Pat Ryan and signed by 11 other veteran House Democrats, discussed the constitutional duty of Congress to declare war and called the recent U.S. strikes in Iran “offensive military operations” that require legislative approval. This follows renewed momentum behind Senator Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution and a parallel House measure introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie and Bo Khanna. They all pointed to the long-term human and financial costs of past wars and stressed the need to protect U.S. service members from another unchecked conflict.

Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre is fighting to keep his wife, Paola, in the U.S. after she was detained by ICE during a green card appointment, despite being married to a U.S. citizen and mother to two young children. Her detention illustrates a shift under the Trump administration to remove prior protections for military families in deportation proceedings, even as military recruiters continue to promote enlistment as a pathway to immigration relief. Legal experts warn that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ended discretion that once helped veterans’ families navigate complex immigration issues without facing arrest.

The VA has insisted that recent revisions to its anti-discrimination bylaws for staff and patients merely align with federal directives and do not impact care delivery. Previously, experts raised concerns that the department’s changes could allow providers to deny care based on personal characteristics not explicitly protected under federal law. VA Secretary Doug Collins has called media reports suggesting such negative intent “false and ridiculous,” while the American Medical Association has criticized the lack of a medical staff vote on the changes. The controversy raises concerns among veteran advocates about the potential erosion of protections for marginalized groups and the broader implications of recent White House policies on VA operations.

Last week, VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed the department’s plans to move forward with reducing its workforce, but he emphasized that frontline roles like doctors, nurses, and therapists will be protected. While a 15% staff reduction—approximately 80,000 jobs—was proposed under a Trump administration mandate, Sec. Collins said that the VA is still evaluating what a “model force” looks like and continues hiring for critical specialties. He claimed that funding should shift from inefficient administrative functions and contracting toward direct services for veterans, including expanded access to community care. Although the Secretary again rejected accusations of privatizing the VA, he signaled major changes ahead, including centralizing back-office operations and limiting remote work to improve productivity and accountability.

National News

House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced opposition to a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at restricting U.S. military involvement in Iran, backing President Trump amid backlash over recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Speaker Johnson dismissed the effort as political and defended presidential war powers under Article II, citing similar actions by previous presidents of both parties. Despite his stance, the resolution is privileged and could still receive a floor vote after the 15-day mark without committee action, keeping the debate alive in Congress.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

The country’s 249th Independence Day is coming up soon. Check out this list of events in the DC area!

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