Spring is in full swing, the cherry blossoms are at peak bloom, and temperatures are rising on Capitol Hill. With no shortage of news and political maneuvering, this week’s hearings promise to be eventful.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a full committee hearing tomorrow focused on biomedical innovation, followed by a mental health hearing by the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will convene tomorrow morning to consider pending VA nominations. We’re monitoring all developments closely and look forward to sharing updates with you soon.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• VA preps for more layoffs: Call center roles facing automation

• Unions get axed: Executive order bans collective bargaining at federal agencies

• The shortfall that never was: HVAC Chairman Mike Bost slams past VA leadership after IG report confirms errors

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, April 1st

•  🧬 Full Committee Hearing: “Harnessing Biomedical Innovation: Modernizing VA Healthcare for the Future,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) at 10:15 am. Watch here.

• ✅ Full Committee Hearing: “Hearing to Consider Pending Nominations,” Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) at 10:30 am. Watch here.

Wednesday, April 2nd

• 🖤 Subcommittee Hearing: “Answering the Call: Examining VA’s Mental Health Policies,” HVAC Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee at 2 pm. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

A vote on President Trump’s compromise budget resolution could happen this week, as House and Senate Republicans work to reconcile their separate budget plans. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that the Senate may consider the measure soon, moving the president’s agenda after a busy few weeks. Meanwhile, the House is focused on a bill aimed at limiting the power of district court judges to issue injunctions—a move that Senate Republicans are urging caution against. Senior GOP lawmakers have also stated that they will oppose any effort by House Speaker Mike Johnson to defund federal courts that rule against Trump’s agenda.

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost has criticized the Biden administration after a new Inspector General (IG) report confirmed that there was never a $3 billion shortfall threatening veterans’ benefits in 2024. The IG report detailed that accounting errors and a projected surge in year-end claims approvals led to the predicted shortfall last year. The Chairman accused past VA leaders of misleading Congress and spreading unnecessary fear among veterans and their families, pledging to continue investigating the issue and hold officials accountable if they provided false testimony. He also expressed confidence in VA Secretary Doug Collins to properly manage the VA’s budget and prevent similar issues in the future.

Veteran News

According to multiple sources, call center agents responsible for scheduling appointments and arranging medical care across the VA are facing potential layoffs. The agency is reportedly planning to shift to automated systems, reducing the need for live agents. A Democratic congressional staffer criticized the proposal, stating, “Veterans seeking life-saving care and compassion deserve to speak with someone who understands their needs and can provide the resources they need—not a lifeless machine.” They described the rumored layoff plan as both “heartless and dangerous.”

Last week, President Trump signed an executive order ending collective bargaining for large groups of federal employees, including those at the VA. A White House fact sheet defended the order and claimed that "Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump's agenda.” The document went on to specifically highlight VA unions that have filed 70 national and local grievances against his policies since the inauguration—averaging more than one grievance per day. National unions, members of Congress, and veterans organizations have raised serious concerns about the order.

Mary Trump has accused her estranged uncle, President Donald Trump, of showing “contempt” for both current and former military service members. A frequent critic of the president, she recently condemned his lack of response when asked about four missing soldiers in Lithuania. “It should offend us that Donald can sit there and claim that he doesn't know anything,” she wrote, adding that he has “no use for the concept of 'service.’” She argued that Trump shows little concern for active-duty troops, veterans, or fallen soldiers, citing the administration’s mass layoffs at the VA as further evidence of his disregard for the military community.

National News

According to a new poll, a majority of Americans say that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should resign after last week’s Signal group chat scandal. Nearly 38% of GOP voters surveyed think Hegseth should step down, while 29% remained unsure. A majority of independents also agree that Hegseth should give up his role, with 54% siding against him. Despite the large media fallout from the incident, no Republicans on Capitol Hill have publicly called for Hegseth’s resignation.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

This weekend was tough for March Madness fans. In a surprising twist, all the teams left in the Men’s Final Four are No. 1 seeds. It’s the first time this has happened since 2008 and only the second time in history. Danielle’s bracket has long since been in the trash can, but we hope y’all are having more luck.

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