John,
Veterans defended our democracy -- now our democracy must defend them. Demand the VA reject Trump’s order stripping away their rights.
Veterans risked everything to protect the rights and freedoms we hold dear. They fought for a nation grounded in equality, liberty, and justice -- a democracy that promised to care for them in return. That promise is now under threat.
President Trump has issued a new executive order that prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs to systematically delete long-standing civil rights protections from its policies. Safeguards that protected veterans and VA staff from discrimination based on political affiliation, marital status, or national origin have been excised from regulations across the system.
These are not harmless edits -- they open the door to real harm. Veterans could be denied care, and staff could be fired, not for their qualifications or conduct, but for their personal beliefs or identity. That is an unacceptable betrayal of the very principles veterans fought to defend.
Tell Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins: Honor the solemn promise the country makes to provide care and support to all who serve, free from discrimination, political interference, or fear of retaliation.
No one who served this country should be forced to pass an ideological test to access the care they were promised. No VA doctor, nurse, or staff member should be punished for refusing to toe a political line.
The VA must remain a place of honor, with services for all veterans, not a tool of political control. As a veteran himself, VA Secretary Collins understands the weight of our national promise this country makes to those who serve. We are urging him to:
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Restore and publicly reaffirm non-discrimination protections in all VA policies;
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Ensure that no veteran is denied care because of politics, identity, or belief; and
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Protect VA staff from loyalty tests, political purges, or ideological targeting.
The VA was created to honor those who served -- not to serve a partisan agenda. Our democracy owes this duty to its defenders.
Call on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to uphold this national duty and to retain and implement regulations that protect the integrity of the VA.
Thank you for standing up for all the women and men who have strengthened this country with their service.
- DFA AF Team
