The vote was held in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC โ Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins was confirmed in the Senate on Tuesday to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Collins was confirmed with strong bipartisan support, including both of Georgia’s Democratic senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The vote was 77-23.
Sen. Ossoff said in a statement that he will “look forward to working with him to ensure Georgiaโs veterans receive the care, support, and respect theyโve earned.โ
The Republican served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, representing Gainesville and northeast Georgia in the 9th District, and he helped defend Trump during his first impeachment process.
The White House said on X that Collins’ confirmation “reflects President Trumpโs commitment to honoring our nationโs heroes and ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve.”
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones congratulated Collins on X.
“Join me in congratulating my friend, lifelong Georgian, and newly confirmed Secretary of Veterans Affairs, @RepDougCollins!” the lieutenant governor posted. “As the first Iraq War veteran to be Secretary of the VA, Doug is a fighter and a tireless advocate for those who fought to protect our freedoms. He will make us all proud! Georgia is behind you all the way, Doug!”
Rep. Andrew Clyde, who now represents Georgia’s 9th District, also sent his congratulations.
“Iโm confident Secretary Collins will serve our nationโs heroes well, ensuring our veterans receive the quality care and support they deserve,” Rep. Clyde wrote on X.
Collins went through his confirmation hearing and answered questions for senators two weeks ago. Some of the most notable topics from Collins’ confirmation hearing included whether or not female troops can receive abortion care through the VA, whether veterans’ benefits would be cut, and whether or not Collins would push back against President Trump should the moment arise.ย
“When you’re in the military, it’s about the mission,” Collins said in his opening remarks, “for me, if this body confirms me, the VA will be my mission. It will be my mission to take care of our veterans and ensure they get the benefits they deserve.”
Collins pointed to his experience serving in the military as also beneficial to the job at hand. He is currently a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.ย
On VA Privatization
Collins said he supports giving veterans access to private medical care but is disavowing any intention to privatize or dismantle the existing VA health system.
โThere will always be a VA health system for the veteran,โ Collins said. But he says the VA โexists for the veteransโ and that particularly newer veterans may prefer private providers.
Democrats are urging Collins to protect the current system, saying it provides valuable expertise. But some Republicans, in particular, say it should be easier for veterans to access private medical care because of long distances.
On Whether VA Should Provide Abortions
Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins said heโll reexamine whether the Department of Veterans Affairs should provide abortions, repeatedly saying in his confirmation hearing Tuesday that he believes a 1992 law bans the VA from performing abortions.
โThe law specifically stated that the VA is not to be doing abortionsโฆ ,โ said Collins, a former Republican congressman from Georgia. โThe situation came up in 2022, in which they were told to look at a rule that would get around that. To me, itโs time for us to take a look at the rule and make sure, just as in every other area of VA life, that weโre actually doing what the law and the intent of this body is.โ
The Biden administration announced in 2022 that VA facilities would provide abortion counseling and abortions to veterans when the life or health of a pregnant veteran was endangered by a pregnancy or when a woman became pregnant because of rape or incest.
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