With just two months remaining to strike a funding deal, lawmakers are heading home at the end of the week amid rising tensions on multiple fronts. The threat of a government shutdown looms large, and veterans’ advocates are keeping a close eye on new proposals that could reshape health care access and broader VA policy.

Congress will return in September, and we’ll be monitoring every development along the way. In the meantime, we wish everyone a restful and productive recess.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• Homeless veterans at risk: New executive order causes concern

• Veterans’ ACCESS Act moves on: Community care bill advances to the full House

• Eyes on the prize?: Lawmakers dip out with September 30 funding deadline looming

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Wednesday, July 30th

• 📝 Committee Business Meeting: To Consider Pending Legislation, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) at 4 pm. More information here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

Senate Republicans say President Trump is determined to avoid a government shutdown, and they are encouraging House GOP colleagues to adopt a more measured approach ahead of the September 30 funding deadline. With Trump focused on promoting recent legislative wins and trade deals, Senate Republicans are seeking bipartisan agreement on appropriations bills to avoid a repeat of March’s partisan funding fight. The Senate’s higher spending proposals, such as its $41.45 billion Interior bill, contrast with the House’s lower funding levels and controversial policy riders. The differing strategies underscore rising tensions between the chambers as the threat of a shutdown looms.

Last week, the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) advanced 25 bills, including the Veterans’ ACCESS Act, House Republicans’ flagship legislation to expand veterans’ access to community care. Championed by Chairman Mike Bost, the bill seeks to codify existing community care access standards, strengthen wait time benchmarks, and create a self-scheduling platform for veterans. The bill drew unanimous opposition from Committee Democrats, who claimed it was part of larger efforts to privatize VA health care. Chairman Bost argued the bill builds on existing laws to address ongoing scheduling failures and empower veterans to choose where they receive care.

Veteran News

Advocates for homeless veterans are raising alarms over President Trump’s new executive order allowing local authorities to remove unhoused individuals from public spaces and place them in treatment facilities, warning it could retraumatize veterans and undermine proven housing-first strategies. The order, signed July 24, ends support for policies that prioritize stable housing before treatment, despite years of research and federal programs showing their effectiveness in reducing veteran homelessness. Critics, including the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and HVAC Ranking Member Mark Takano, argue the approach is punitive, costly, and risks worsening the crisis for vulnerable veterans. While VA leadership has not announced immediate policy changes, the order casts uncertainty over future support strategies for the nearly 33,000 veterans still experiencing homelessness.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has found that military discharge review boards are inconsistently applying Pentagon guidance meant to give “liberal consideration” to veterans whose discharges were linked to mental health conditions or military sexual assault (MST). Despite directives issued in 2014 and 2017, only about half of appeals since 2018 considered these mitigating factors, and most were denied or only partially granted. Approval rates varied widely by service, with the Air Force Discharge Review Board granting full upgrades in just 8% of applicable cases. The GAO recommended that the Defense Department improve consistency, transparency, and public access to decisions, as discharge status significantly impacts veterans’ benefits and employment opportunities.

FOX Business recently published a story spotlighting Hire Heroes USA CEO Ross Dickman, who called attention to the challenges veterans face in securing high-performance private sector jobs despite possessing highly transferable skills. Dickman urged employers to adopt skills-based hiring practices instead of relying on rigid credential requirements, saying veterans are often unfairly screened out due to how their military experience is presented on paper. He also advocated for stronger public-private partnerships and reforms to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to better support both veterans and military spouses, who currently face a 21% unemployment rate.

National News

Despite persistently low approval ratings, President Trump retains strong loyalty from his base, even as some Americans voice growing concerns over his immigration policies and economic decisions. Recent AP-NORC polling shows Trump’s approval hovering around 40%, with many voters dissatisfied with his handling of tariffs, deportations, and the economy. While critics cite his aggressive deportation tactics and policies benefiting the wealthy, others say they are willing to overlook his rhetoric if it means progress. These steady ratings highlight Trump’s uniquely stable, yet polarizing, political standing.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

Our team will be making the rounds at the various VSO conventions in August. If you see us, be sure to say hello! 👋

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