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Minority and transgender veterans say policy changes are eroding access and safety at VA
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Summary
Representatives of minority veterans, including transgender veterans, told the committee that recent executive actions and staffing changes are creating confusion and fear about access to gender‑affirming and other care, and urged Congress to protect services and reinstate staff where needed.
At the joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs hearing, minority veterans and advocates told lawmakers that recent policy moves and personnel changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs have created uncertainty about access to gender‑affirming care and other services for underserved veteran populations.
Lindsay Church, a Navy veteran and transgender advocate, told the committee: “This is not governance. This is negligence at best, willful cruelty at worst.” She described instances in which transgender veterans’ clinical records had been altered and said some providers no longer felt able to guarantee safe, respectful care. She said one transgender veteran in Syracuse died by suicide on Jan. 27 and described community concern that policy shifts were worsening harms.
Why it matters: Minority veterans—including women, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans and those with limited resources—already experience disparities in access and outcomes. Witnesses said recent decisions have increased fear of using VA services, and that officials must preserve nondiscriminatory access and clear reporting channels for harassment and discrimination.
What advocates asked for: Witnesses requested that Congress and VA protect workforce capacity that delivers specialized care, reaffirm nondiscrimination protections and ensure independent reporting and remediation systems for harassment and discrimination (testimony referenced the Deborah Sampson Act’s aims). They urged reinstatement where firings have disrupted mission‑critical services and stronger, independent oversight of implementation.
Ending: Committee members from both parties said they would continue oversight. Several lawmakers asked VSOs to provide specific examples of disrupted care so the committee could act.
