JOHN, this is Paul Eaton.

If you were deployed overseas at any point, you likely were in close proximity to a burn pit. And for years, Veterans knew they were suffering because of those burn pits. Cancer, respiratory issues, loss of smell. For far too long, Veterans were forced to face those challenges on their own. I spent a year downwind from a burn pit in Kirkush, Iraq — and still remember the experience.

But after years of working at it, VoteVets got the PACT Act passed in 2022. Finally, Veterans could get treatment for the ailments they suffer from as a result of toxic exposures. Millions have had their claims processed and approved, and the program has been an outstanding success.

Too successful for Donald Trump and VA Secretary Collins, evidently. They’ve placed the PACT Act at the dead center of their crosshairs. It’s no mistake that their initial plan for budget and staff cuts at the VA reduced both to the numbers they were at before the PACT Act passed.

They work to undermine this extremely popular and successful program, even in the face of additional evidence. A new study from the National Institutes of Health and the VA found significantly higher rates of mental illness and brain damage among the men and women stationed near toxic burn pits. The PACT Act undoubtedly deserves more resources to address this, not less.

Now, the issue before us is two-fold.

First, Trump’s taken aim at the funding for research exactly like this. At the top of his chopping block are the grants, loans, scientists, doctors, and researchers that establish links through these studies.

Second, he’s taken aim at the programs themselves. Through staff and funding cuts, he’s undermining care provided by the VA. Through process and program changes, they are diverting care from VA facilities to private providers. Together, they pursue the same ends: Degradation of care to justify further privatization of services provided through the VA — and larger profit margins for themselves and their donors. And let me emphasize that while privatization might sound like an efficient idea, in reality it will send our Veterans to providers untrained to handle veteran specific issues. My British Army friends have horror stories of such a decision rendered in Britain.

VoteVets has taken on efforts to privatize and destroy the VA for the last twenty years. At this point we’ve killed more attempts than we can count. But these attacks, at this very moment, are by far the most serious threats the VA has ever encountered.

The VA still pursues perfection — aggressively — and at its core it is a solemn promise between our country and those who wear the uniform: When you serve, we will take care of you. Trump and his entire party want to see the promise of the VA broken, and we can’t allow that to happen.

VoteVets is spending significant time and resources combatting Trump’s efforts to destroy the VA, both on the campaign trail and in our nation’s capital. The only way that work continues is through donations from our generous supporters.

If you are willing to make a donation today, $5 or anything you can, know this: You will be funding the most comprehensive and effective effort to defend the VA and the care it provides for our Veterans.

And now, I have to formally ask: Can we count on you? If you’re still with VoteVets, please make that $5 donation. With thousands of other supporters joining you these contributions will add up very quickly. That’s how we stop these attacks, and it’s how we’ll defend the VA at this moment of great peril.

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As always, thank you for your support.

Very respectfully,

Paul Eaton
Major General, U.S. Army, Retired
Senior Advisor, VoteVets