THREAD: We’ve reported that Veterans Affairs officials have warned that Trump’s cuts are hurting veterans.
@SecVetAffairs Doug Collins called our story a “false narrative,” but did not say anything was inaccurate.
Here’s what our story revealed and how we engaged with the VA.
@SecVetAffairs Doug Collins called our story a “false narrative,” but did not say anything was inaccurate.
Here’s what our story revealed and how we engaged with the VA.
@SecVetAffairs 2/ First, @SecVetAffairs has pledged to “put veterans first.”
His boss, President Trump, has said, “We love our veterans. We’re going to take good care of them.”
youtube.com/shorts/BMNHEl1…
His boss, President Trump, has said, “We love our veterans. We’re going to take good care of them.”
youtube.com/shorts/BMNHEl1…
@SecVetAffairs 3/ We found lots of facts & evidence of VA officials saying vets are not being put first.
We got dozens of internal VA emails in which doctors & staff warn higher-ups about cuts that are threatening care.
Here’s one about having to freeze impending “life-saving cancer trials.”
We got dozens of internal VA emails in which doctors & staff warn higher-ups about cuts that are threatening care.
Here’s one about having to freeze impending “life-saving cancer trials.”
4/ And here is a message about contracts for cancer registries, which doctors use to track cancer treatments. The email notes that DOGE flagged a registry contract for “immediate termination.”
5/ Sec. Doug Collins calls us “far left.”
In fact, ProPublica is fiercely independent, non-partisan and dedicated to digging up facts and evidence.
We’ve held both Republican and Democratic administrations to account.
In fact, ProPublica is fiercely independent, non-partisan and dedicated to digging up facts and evidence.
We’ve held both Republican and Democratic administrations to account.
6/ Collins calls our story “misleading” based on “outdated” emails — since, he said, VA has corrected the problems.
Actually, our story does note that some problems have been corrected. Take a look.
Actually, our story does note that some problems have been corrected. Take a look.
7/ But what we also found is that the chaos and the cuts have had *real consequences.*
-Some cancer trials for vets have still not started.
-Homeless vets were left in the lurch when assigned social workers were suddenly laid off.
-An opioid treatment trial was hobbled.
-Some cancer trials for vets have still not started.
-Homeless vets were left in the lurch when assigned social workers were suddenly laid off.
-An opioid treatment trial was hobbled.
8/ Of course, we asked the VA about *all* of this. We sent the agency a detailed list of our findings and questions. And our story reflected the VA’s helpfully detailed response.
Because we’re committed to being fair and getting the facts absolutely right.
Because we’re committed to being fair and getting the facts absolutely right.
9/ After our story, Congress members said the admin has been stonewalling on the impact of cuts.
“We want the country to understand that this administration is hiding what they are doing," said @RepDeluzio.
propublica.org/article/vetera…
“We want the country to understand that this administration is hiding what they are doing," said @RepDeluzio.
propublica.org/article/vetera…
10/ We are also committed to following what’s happening at the VA. To reporting fairly and *fully* on how cuts are affecting veterans.
If you are a veteran who gets care from the VA, we want to hear from you.
propublica.org/getinvolved/de…
If you are a veteran who gets care from the VA, we want to hear from you.
propublica.org/getinvolved/de…
11/ And if you’re an employee at the VA and want to share your experience, we want to hear from you too. Get in touch with ProPublica reporters securely. These are their usernames on Signal:
Eric Umansky: Ericumansky.04
Vernal Coleman: vcoleman91.99
Eric Umansky: Ericumansky.04
Vernal Coleman: vcoleman91.99
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