Senate Veterans Affairs hearing focuses on nominees amid dispute over mass VA firings and transparency

WASHINGTON

The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs heard testimony Monday from three nominees to senior Department of Veterans Affairs posts as senators pressed them about the administration's plan to reduce the VA workforce by roughly 80,000'0,400 employees already dismissed'and about transparency, legal compliance and potential effects on veterans'access to care.

Why it matters: Senators said the scale and speed of the proposed reductions risk disrupting claims processing, appointment scheduling and other front-line services. Several senators placed holds on nominations until the department provides fuller public accounting and assurances about maintaining veterans'access to benefits and care.

The hearing introduced Captain Sam Brown, nominated for Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs; Lieutenant Colonel James Baer, nominated for VA general counsel; and Richard Topping, nominated for VA chief financial officer. Committee members repeatedly returned to department-wide staffing and contract actions initiated since the current administration took office.

"He has failed to respond to our inquiries and questions," Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal said of the VA secretary, adding that the secretary "has targeted 80,000 in addition to the 2,400 already fired among the VA workforce." Blumenthal said the committee will hold a "shadow hearing" to collect veterans'accounts of service impacts.

Several senators asked each nominee whether they would follow court orders and the law if confirmed. Lieutenant Colonel James Baer, the nominee for general counsel, said, "Absolutely not, sir," when asked whether he would ever recommend disobeying a court order. Captain Richard Topping, the CFO nominee, and Captain Sam Brown likewise said they would follow the law and court orders.

Senator Patty Murray warned that "a veteran who has to wait months for an appointment is a denial of benefits," and several colleagues said widespread firings would make the VA's people-intensive work harder to sustain.

Nominees'responses and limits: None of the three nominees claimed responsibility for the department's personnel decisions; each said they were not yet part of the department and would advise the secretary and follow legal requirements if confirmed. Baer emphasized that "the office of general counsel [should not] be the impediment" to committee oversight and pledged timely responses to legitimate requests from the committee.

Topping, who faced questions about his prior role at a health-care organization, defended his record and said litigation arising from a state audit had been resolved in his favor in lower courts; he told senators he would put veterans'interests first if confirmed. Brown, who currently receives VA care and runs a contractor that works with the VA, pledged that the National Cemetery Administration mission "will never suffer" under his leadership.

Committee process: Several senators said they would not consent to expedited unanimous confirmations until the department explains how it will choose employees for separation, which positions are exempted, and how it will prevent interruptions in care and benefit delivery. Senator Ruben Gallego said he will hold all VA nominees until the committee is satisfied that veterans will be held harmless through any staffing changes.

Context: Senators cited several related actions'contract cancellations, hiring freezes and early-separation offers'and pending litigation that, together, have created operational uncertainty. Members repeatedly urged nominees to be transparent with the committee and to provide written answers for the record.

Looking ahead: The committee intends to consider the nominations at a forthcoming executive session but several members said they intend to preserve holds pending public responses from the department on staffing plans, contract lists and assurances that veterans'access will be protected.