March is shaping up to be another intense month. With a partial DHS funding lapse colliding with growing economic concerns as unpaid Transportation Security Administration officers threaten air travel stability, lawmakers are simultaneously debating the scope of presidential war powers following U.S. strikes on Iran. Everyone on the Hill will certainly be busy this week juggling these domestic and international priorities, and we will be watching it all closely.

Meanwhile, veterans policy remains firmly on the congressional agenda, with more major veterans service organizations presenting their legislative priorities and subcommittees examining caregiver implementation and traumatic brain injury support. At the same time, the VA’s fiduciary reporting reversal, renewed recognition efforts for Vietnam-era allies, and a nationwide hiring push signal broader debates about due process, benefits eligibility, and long-term reintegration support. Here’s what’s happening this week.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• Due process wins out: The VA ends fiduciary-based FBI reporting

• Oversight in action: Congress hears from leading VSOs and examines caregiver reforms and TBI support in a packed week of hearings

• At home and abroad: Domestic and international tensions ramp up over funding, warfighting, and Congressional pushback

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, March 3rd

• 👥 Joint VSO Hearing: “Legislative Presentation of Veterans of Foreign Wars & Multi VSO: Student Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Minority Veterans of America, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA),” House & Senate Veterans Affairs Committees at 10 am. Watch here.

Wednesday, March 4th

• 👥 Joint VSO Hearing: “Legislative Presentation of The American Legion & Multi VSOs: Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, National Association of State Directors of Veteran Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, National Guard Association of the United States, Mission Roll Call,” House & Senate Veterans Affairs Committees at 9:45 am. Watch here.

• 👩‍⚕️ Subcommittee Hearing: “Delivering for Veterans and Caregivers: Year One of the Dole Act,” House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee at 2:15 pm. Watch here.

Thursday, March 5th

• 🧠 Subcommittee Hearing: “Hidden Wounds: Effectively Supporting Veterans with TBI,” HVAC Health Subcommittee at 10:15 am. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has become central to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff, with officers set to miss paychecks this week as negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms remain deadlocked. Lawmakers in both parties are exploring options to shift previously allocated border security funds to keep TSA employees paid and avoid airport disruptions that could ripple through the broader U.S. economy. Senators have warned that prolonged shutdown effects could lead to flight delays, reduced travel, and economic fallout, particularly if absenteeism rises among unpaid TSA workers. The impasse underscores broader national security concerns, as agencies including TSA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remain funded only through temporary measures amid stalled talks over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reforms.

Veteran News

Last week, the VA announced that it will no longer report veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely based on participation in the VA fiduciary program, reversing a decades-old policy. Previously, veterans assigned a fiduciary to manage benefits were automatically flagged in NICS, restricting firearm purchases without a judicial finding of dangerousness. Leaders at the department said a legal review determined fiduciary status alone does not meet federal standards for firearm prohibition, and the VA will work to remove prior fiduciary-based entries. Supporters are calling the move a due process correction, while critics warn it could weaken suicide prevention safeguards.

Surviving members of the Secret Guerrilla Unit (SGU), a CIA-backed force of mostly Hmong fighters who supported U.S. operations during the Vietnam War, are seeking eligibility for VA health care and disability benefits more than 50 years after the conflict. Although SGU veterans are now eligible for burial in national cemeteries, they are not recognized as “veterans” under current VA definitions because the unit operated under the CIA rather than the U.S. military. Advocates estimate about 4,000 SGU veterans remain alive in the U.S. and argue that their high casualty rates and direct support to U.S. forces warrant full recognition and benefits. In California, local leaders are pushing resolutions to build national support, warning that time is running out for aging SGU members seeking long-awaited federal acknowledgment.

The VA is urgently hiring Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) and Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists (VRSs) nationwide to support veterans through the Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. These roles provide rehabilitation services, career counseling, and case management to help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for and sustain employment. Openings are available across multiple regional districts, demonstrating a growing demand for employment and transition support services. VA officials are promoting the positions as mission-driven careers that offer competitive federal benefits and professional development opportunities.

National News

President Trump has claimed that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began Saturday were justified by Tehran’s expanding ballistic missile program and renewed nuclear weapons efforts, outlining objectives that include dismantling Iran’s missile capability, neutralizing its navy, and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” has resulted in four U.S. service member deaths and more than a dozen injuries, while Kuwait reportedly shot down three U.S. F-15s in a friendly fire incident, with aircrews ejecting safely. In Washington, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a War Powers vote to limit presidential authority as military operations expand.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

The winter weather seems far from over as the DC area is expected to see even more snowfall later this afternoon. ❄️

JOIN THE NIMITZ NETWORK!

Enjoying our updates? Don’t keep it to yourself — forward this email to friends or colleagues who’d love to stay informed. They can subscribe here to become part of our growing community.

Interested in our other publications? Please subscribe by clicking below: