Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins announced a significant reshuffling of funds within the department, recovering nearly $2 billion by canceling inefficient contracts. Aiming to better serve veterans, these funds will now enhance healthcare and benefits directly.
Breitbart reported that Doug Collins, who took office in February after Senate confirmation, has quickly enacted measures to cut what he described as unnecessary spending on consulting contracts.
His recent announcement focused on redirecting this almost $2 billion in savings directly into veteran services. Collins's main focus since then has been on finding and eliminating expenditures that do not contribute directly to the welfare of veterans.
Millions of dollars, for instance, were being spent on consultants tasked with tasks such as preparing presentations and taking minutes during meetings.
Addressing these changes, Collins emphasized efficiency within the VA. “This is why we’re talking about efficiency and getting the job done for veterans here at the VA,” he stated.
In addition to these savings, Collins identified other areas where resources were being used inefficiently. Coaching, training, and executive support represented further unnecessary costs. Millions were reportedly directed towards these services, which Collins believes could be managed internally without external contracts.
Continuing he humorously suggested alternatives for the resources being cut, pointing out the absurdity of high spending on certain services. For basic software skills like creating presentations, he recommended self-learning through tutorials, humorously offering pencils for note-taking as a low-cost solution.
Collins indicates that these are not the only contracts undergoing scrutiny. He suggested that more contracts might be canceled in the future as efforts to streamline the VA and effectively allocate its budget continue.
Earlier in February, Collins disclosed that the previous administration reallocated VA resources to assist illegal migrants in securing healthcare, an action he intends to reverse swiftly.
Collins advocates focusing these resources on veterans, aligning with his goals of improving the quality and accessibility of veteran healthcare and benefits.
Collins' approach to revamping the VA's use of funds also touches on the role of supervisors within the organization. He questioned the necessity of external coaching and training, instead encouraging in-house competence: “If your supervisor can’t coach you and train you in their job, then let me know, and I’ll come help you.”
Collins showed clear frustration with the spending on executive support, yet he remains committed to supporting his team.
He reassured the VA staff of his dedication to supporting them while also promoting a self-reliant approach to management within the department.
For Collins, the priority is shifting the mindset within the VA towards internal resourcefulness and leveraging existing capabilities to reduce expenditures.
By cutting the outside help, he hopes to foster an environment that utilizes resources more efficiently and with a keen focus on veterans’ needs.
Addressing potential critics, Collins encouraged the public to ignore fear-mongering and focus on the strategic redirection of funds toward veterans' health and benefits. “Don’t feed the line of what DC’s wanting to sell you," he asserted. He reiterated his mission to ensure the VA fulfills its core purpose effectively.
Despite being new in his role, Collins’ decisive actions underscore a commitment to upholding the VA's core mission. With the redirection of the nearly $2 billion, there’s a strong signal of hope for improved services to veterans.
