After a week of recess, the House and Senate are back and expected to face several battles over the next few days. From juggling the White House’s agenda to dealing with internal party struggles, Republicans and Democrats alike have a lot on their plate. These dynamics are all likely to rear their head during events this week.

Kicking things off this afternoon, the House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing focused on improving data sharing between the VA and community care providers. Two additional hearings and a markup are scheduled for Tuesday, with a final hearing planned for Wednesday. It’s shaping up to be a busy week for Nimitz News Flashes—stay tuned for tailored summaries of all the key developments.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• “Shadow hearings”: Democratic leaders try new tactic to investigate VA cuts and their impact on veterans

• VBA’s no-contact order: Employees banned from calling, emailing department lawyers

• Us vs. Us vs. Them: Republicans & Democrats struggle with internal and external divisions

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Monday, March 24th

•  👨‍💻 Subcommittee Hearing: “Closing the Data Gap: Improving Interoperability Between VA and Community Providers,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Technology Modernization Subcommittee at 3 pm. Watch here.

Tuesday, March 25th

• 🏫 Subcommittee Hearing: “Mission Incomplete: Strengthening the TAP Program to Ensure a Smoother Transition to Civilian Life for Tomorrow's Veterans,” HVAC Economic Opportunity Subcommittee at 10:15 am. Watch here.

• 📝 Subcommittee Markup: “Markup on: H.R. 217, CHIP IN for Veterans Act; H.R. 1969, No Wrong Door for Veterans Act; H.R. 1971, Veterans Supporting Prosthetics Opportunities and Recreational Therapy (SPORT) Act; H.R. 1823, The VA Budget Accountability Act; H.R. 1107, The Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act; H.R. 1336, The Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Act; H.R. 658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration; H.R. 1644, Copay Fairness for Veterans Act; and H.R. 1860, The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act,” HVAC Health Subcommittee at 2:15 pm. Watch here.

• 👩‍⚕️ Subcommittee Hearing: “Breaking Down Barriers: Getting Veterans ACCESS to Lifesaving Care,” HVAC Health Subcommittee at 2:30 pm. Watch here.

Wednesday, March 26th

• 📋 Subcommittee Hearing: “Legislative Hearing on: Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 530, ACES Act; H.R. 647, Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025; H.R. 1039, Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act; H.R. 1228, Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act; H.R. 1286, Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act; H.R. 1344, Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act; H.R. 2138, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025; H.R. 2137, Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2025; Discussion Draft, Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025; H.R. 2201, Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act; Discussion Draft, Veterans Claims Education Act; Discussion Draft, Survivors Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2025; and Discussion Draft, Board of Veterans Appeals’ Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act,” HVAC Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee at 10:15 am. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has warned that the Senate will not likely move President Trump’s border security, energy, and tax agenda until July at the earliest. The large size and broad scope of the legislation are expected to delay progress, as the included policies are driving further divisions between Republicans. While discussions are ongoing in both chambers, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a narrow margin—he can only afford to lose one GOP vote and pass the bill.

Tensions are rising within the Democratic Party following Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to assist Republicans in passing a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown. At local town halls last week, Democratic lawmakers largely sidestepped questions about their confidence in Schumer and what his move could mean for the party’s future. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado acknowledged the unrest, saying, “We're going to have conversations, I'm sure, in the foreseeable future about all the Democratic leadership.” Other outspoken critics include Reps. Glenn Ivey and Delia Ramirez, as well as Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

Veteran News

Earlier today, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal announced his intention to hold “shadow hearings” focused on how recent staffing cuts and firings at the VA may be harming veterans. He and other Senate Democrats have invited VA leaders, including Secretary Doug Collins, and others to speak about how these changes are affecting veterans and their families. “Hearing directly from those impacted is the first step in holding the administration accountable,” the Ranking Member said. The first hearing is set to take place next week.

Some experts are calling American veterans the “face of Trump’s government cuts” as members of Congress face tumultuous town halls and growing concerns from constituents about federal layoffs and canceled contracts. Veterans make up nearly 30% of the federal workforce, and many have spoken out about their fear of losing their jobs amid sweeping changes at the VA and other agencies. They have also expressed anxiety that continued cuts may harm care and benefits delivery. Tensions continue to rise, and Democrats are increasingly pointing to these dynamics as they push back against the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The VA has directed employees within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) not to communicate with the agency’s attorneys without explicit approval. In a recent series of emails, staff were told they “should have NO direct contact” with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) unless granted permission by a senior VA official. Traditionally, the VBA works closely with OGC on processing claims and interpreting new regulations. Some experts argue this new restriction is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to weaken the authority of long-serving federal employees.

National News

President Trump has defended the recent decision to send a U.S. delegation—including Second Lady Usha Vance—to Greenland, following criticism from Greenland’s Prime Minister, who called the visit “very aggressive.” President Trump claimed that the trip was made at the request of local Greenlanders, framing it as an act of friendship, not provocation. He stated that many in Greenland feel neglected and would welcome stronger ties with the U.S., citing national security concerns due to Russian and Chinese activity in the region.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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