On Wednesday, officials from the Veterans Affairs (VA) department announced a new partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at improving the functioning of the agency.
They were clear, however, that this collaboration will not involve sharing any veterans’ medical or benefits data with outside parties.
Collaboration Details
A VA spokesperson explained that a single DOGE employee has been assigned to focus solely on identifying inefficient contracts and enhancing the VA’s operations, especially in its information technology systems.
This news comes amid concerns among veterans’ groups regarding DOGE’s involvement, particularly due to the personal connection with its head, Elon Musk.
Speculation had suggested that DOGE was already assessing VA systems and proposing budget cuts before Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins officially began his duties.
Addressing these rumors, VA officials reaffirmed that the assigned DOGE staff member will work strictly to improve efficiency and performance and will not have access to any sensitive veterans’ data.
They expressed enthusiasm about the potential benefits of partnering with DOGE to better serve veterans and their families.
Administration’s Stance
In his first address to VA staff after being confirmed by the Senate, Collins did not bring up DOGE.
He highlighted his commitment to challenging established practices and exploring new ways to assist VA beneficiaries, while also acknowledging the dedication of the majority of VA employees.
He stressed the importance of accountability, particularly in areas where performance falls short.
In other developments, White House representatives dismissed media reports alleging that DOGE personnel had secretly installed external servers in federal financial systems to monitor operations or accessed classified information without appropriate authorization.
DOGE senior advisor Katie Miller characterized these claims as unfounded rumors propagated by uninformed bureaucrats.
Restructuring and Concerns
Meanwhile, there’s been a flurry of activity within the administration aimed at dismantling agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Education, actions that critics argue are unjustified moves to shrink the federal government.
Representative Mark Takano from California recently urged VA staff to be wary of proposed buyouts from the administration, drawing parallels to his observations of conditions at Twitter under Musk’s leadership.
He expressed concern that civil service employees could face disillusionment similar to past experiences.
In a significant restructuring move, VA leadership has placed around 60 employees, many of whom have roles in diversity and inclusion, on administrative leave.
Additionally, the heads of both the Center for Women Veterans and the Center for Minority Veterans were dismissed.
During his confirmation hearing, Collins had voiced strong support for the diligent employees at the VA, while also emphasizing the need for greater accountability and efficiency to protect taxpayer funds.
Currently, the VA is home to nearly 479,000 staff members and oversees medical and benefits information for more than 9 million veterans.
Source: Militarytimes