Good evening, all. President Donald Trump is now officially sworn in and has already begun taking steps to ensure change in his second term. Congress is certainly following his lead as the Senate works its way through the many pending nominations for his Cabinet.

This morning, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held its rescheduled nomination hearing for Doug Collins, Trump’s pick for Secretary of the VA. The Committee is scheduled to hold a business meeting on the same subject on Thursday, where they will likely vote to move Collins’s nomination to the full chamber.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee is also cooking with gas this week. Members are set to hold a hearing on Wednesday surrounding community care, followed by a Thursday hearing on Second Amendment rights for veterans with fiduciaries. Some of these topics are bound to spark controversy, and we look forward to covering them for you in our Nimitz News Flashes.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• Quick review of Doug Collins hearing: SecVA nominee satisfies SVAC’s inquiries

• Holding VA accountable: New legislation introduced to “trim the fat” of bad VA employees

• Day Two: A look into President Trump’s executive actions since the weekend

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, January 21st

• ✅ Full Committee Nomination Hearing: “Nomination of the Honorable Douglas A. Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs,” Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) at 10 am. Watch here.

Wednesday, January 22nd

• 🩺 Full Committee Hearing: “Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) at 1 pm. Watch here.

Thursday, January 23rd

• 📝 Full Committee Business Meeting: “Nomination of the Honorable Douglas A. Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs,” SVAC at 9 am. Watch here.

• 👮 Subcommittee Hearing: “Correcting VA’s Violations of Veterans’ Due Process and Second Amendment Rights," HVAC Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee at 1:15 pm. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

The Senate has begun confirming President Trump’s Cabinet nominees, starting the week off with the confirmation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Floor votes are coming up soon for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, CIA Director nominee John Ratcliffe, and Homeland Security Secretary nominee Kristi Noem. Insiders anticipate the least resistance with the latter two confirmations, as Hegseth’s advancement out of committee fell strictly on party lines. Other controversial picks, including Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, are not expected to move forward until next week.

At the end of last week, the Chairs of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees introduced legislation to ease the way for the VA to discipline and fire underperforming and harmful staff. The Restore VA Accountability Act, according to SVAC Chairman Jerry Moran, will “help make certain that veterans receive the high-quality care and benefits they’ve earned and VA staff have the healthy workplace they deserve.” HVAC Chairman Mike Bost added that this lack of accountability “has a direct impact on not only veterans, but the mission of VA and the employees who are trying to do their jobs well.” The proposed bill would nullify federal requirements for performance improvement measures before disciplinary actions, as well as ensure evidence-based decisions are upheld.

Veteran News

Doug Collins, President Trump’s nominee for VA Secretary, sat before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this morning. His original nomination hearing was rescheduled from last week due to a delayed FBI background check. During the Committee’s line of questioning, Collins pledged to improve the VA healthcare system and specifically referenced community care delivery for veterans. He also signaled support for carrying out the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) initiative. According to experts, Collins is expected to easily sail through the confirmation process following his testimony. The full hearing summary can be found in a subsequent Nimitz News Flash, so stay tuned.

The VA is promoting the newly published 2025 Veterans Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers. This reference guide is meant to help veterans and their families learn more about benefits they may be eligible for, including compensation, life insurance, education benefits, and mental health resources. Veterans can download the handbook online or pick up a printed copy at their local medical center, regional office, or Vet Center for free.

National News

Following his inauguration over the weekend, President Trump has rescinded 78 of former President Joe Biden’s executive actions and signed dozens of his own. Some orders immediately went into effect, like the pardoning of Jan. 6 defendants, while others are expected to face legal challenges. The White House has also released President Trump’s “America First” priorities for his second term. The key headers from the document include: “Make America Safe Again,” “Make America Affordable and Energy Dominant Again,” “Drain the Swamp,” and “Bring Back American Values.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

Danielle is devastated by the Detroit Lions’ loss on Saturday. Much to her chagrin, Justin was right to back the Washington Commanders, and she hopes they (respectfully) crush the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

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