Breaking VA news -- Trump's pick for UnderSec for Benefits, Karen Brazell, has withdrawn her name for the post. Leaves a big question about who will take on the leadership role. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Veterans volunteer longer, vote more often than civilian peers: report Fewer veterans are donating their free time to charities today then they did four years ago, but their involvement remains strong.

Veterans volunteer longer, vote more often than civilian peers, according to a new report looking at civic engagement
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Hopefully those sources will keep calling as I head over to join the @politico.com defense team, which is an incredible opportunity.

Some personal news...
After 11 years at @militarytimes.bsky.social, next week will be my last at the publication. It has been a great run, thanks to all of the excellent reporters and generous sources I've been lucky enough to work with.

BLS unemployment data for August: 3.1% for all vets (3.0% in July), 3.0% for OIF/OEF era vets (3.1% in July), 4.3% for the nation (4.2% in July).

Happening now: @repmarktakano.bsky.social, Sen Blumenthal, Rep Brownley and veterans advocates protesting @DeptVetAffairs proposed rule change dumping access to abortion care. Takano calls it a matter of veterans health and safety.

Senate confirms senior VA advisor to become next department watchdog The incoming VA Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, worked for several months alongside the senior VA leaders she will now be charged with investigating.

Update from the VA Inspector General's Office: New IG Cheryl Mason was sworn in yesterday. Background here -- www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

BLS unemployment data for July: 3.0% for all vets (3.7% in June), 3.1% for OIF/OEF era vets (3.8% in June), 4.2% for the nation (4.1% in June).

Senate confirms senior VA advisor to become next department watchdog The incoming VA Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, worked for several months alongside the senior VA leaders she will now be charged with investigating.

Despite Democratic objections over her lack of independence, senior VA advisor Cheryl Mason was confirmed today as the department's new inspector general www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Harvard to launch new service fellowship for veterans, federal workers The American Service Fellowship will provide 50 students with free tuition for a one-year master's degree program.

New this morning: @harvardkennedy.bsky.social out today with a new fellowship for vets and former federal workers for public service studies. Move comes as the university is sparring publicly with the White House on a host of issues. www.militarytimes.com/education-tr...

House panel advances DOD policy bill with sweeping acquisition reforms Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have now approved their initial drafts of the annual defense authorization bill.

HASC passes #FY26NDAA draft by a 55-2 vote -- final gavel comes down at 11:37pm. Details here: www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Happy to help

Order for today's HASC #FY26NDAA markup:
— Tactical Air/Land
— Strategic forces
— Seapower
— Cyber
— Readiness
— Intelligence
— Personnel
— Full committee matters

It’s HASC #NDAA time. #FY26NDAA

VA expects 30K voluntary job cuts by October, erasing need for layoffs More than 17,000 Veterans Affairs jobs have been eliminated or vacated since the start of the year.

VA expects to total almost 30,000 staff cuts by the end of this fiscal year, but is dropping plans for a larger reduction in force to trim the department bureaucracy www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Lawmaker proposes Iranian Campaign Medal for strikes on nuclear sites Pilots and supporting servicemembers involved in the complex airstrikes would be eligible for the new military medal.

After last week's airstrikes, Rep. Tony Gonzales is proposing the creation of a new Iranian Campaign Medal, with eligibility open to any troops who served in direct support of Operation Midnight Hammer.
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Lots of news today, but this House Dems roundtable now on veterans housing support is worth noting. The issue is becoming a friction point between the parties, with veterans groups trying to push for both reforms and continued support of current programs.

House passes $435 billion spending plan for VA in fiscal 2026 Republicans approved plans for an 18% boost in total Veterans Affairs spending next year, but the measure is far from becoming law.

House Republicans pass $435 billion budget plan for VA next fiscal year over objections from Democratic lawmakers www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Advocates recruit vets to attend Afghan allies’ immigration hearings The effort is designed to show support for legal immigration of more Afghans who worked alongside American forces during the war overseas.

Out now: @afghanevac and @iava are asking vets to accompany Afghan allies into immigration hearings, to show support from the community and provide reassurance if needed www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Happening now — VA Sec Collins testified before the Senate Approps Committee on the FY26 budget request. Live here: www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...

Trump taps Fleet Forces head as Navy’s next chief of naval operations Caudle, a career submariner from North Carolina, has been in command of the Norfolk, Virginia-based U.S. Fleet Forces Command since December 2021.

Trump will nominate U.S. Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Daryl Caudle to serve as the Navy’s next chief of naval operations -- details from Riley Ceder
www.militarytimes.com/news/your-na...

Unusual level of chippiness at SASC today for SecDef Hegseth's testimony. Sen. Sheehy yelled at protestors from the dias before the hearing began. Sen. Tuberville just taunted Sen. Hirono to "ask professional questions" during her time grilling Hegseth.

Presser now at VFWHQ with Sen Blumenthal pushing for more support for military sexual trauma victims — concerns the bipartisan Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act.

Day three of SecDef Hegseth budget hearings on Capitol Hill, this time before House Armed Services. Crowds are still large -- lots of folks waiting in the hallway, hoping a seat in the large hearing room opens up.

Hegseth testimony before House Approps this morning, by the numbers:

** "Warrior ethos" -- five times
** "Lethality" -- four times
** "Warfighter" -- four times
** References to the souther US border -- 16 times

docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...

The #Unite4Veterans rally on the National Mall officially kicks off at the top of the hour — crowd is starting to gather now, with signs and shirts protesting the administration’s proposed cuts to VA.

BLS unemployment data for May: 3.6% for all vets (3.5% in April), 3.3% for OIF/OEF era vets (2.9% in April), 4.2% for the nation (4.2% in April).

More vets rallies today — women vets holding a presser outside the Capitol now to highlight “a harmful rollback of women’s roles and recognition” in the military and at VA. With @houlahan.house.gov @repgoodlander.bsky.social

The hill I've decided to die on: This appropriations bill has 95% of its total funding going to VA and 4% going to military construction, yet it's formally titled "MilCon/VA appropriations." That's dumb.

GOP plan provides $453 billion for VA programs, benefits next year The spending plan for Veterans Affairs next year is up significantly from current levels but is about $1 billion less than what the White House wanted.

House Appropriations Committee's veterans panel is marking up its draft of the VA-MilCon budget now -- background here: www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...