Tag

#veterans

Incidents affecting military veterans, including deportation of veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces, denial of VA benefits, and policies that harm those who served the country in uniform.

2 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Veterans Affairs: Mar-a-Lago Members Shaped Policy, VA Secretary Firing

The ProPublica investigation documented a 'shadow VA' in which the three Mar-a-Lago members — who paid $200,000 entry fees — exchanged hundreds of calls and emails with VA officials, reviewed candidates for top positions, pressed for months for additional vetting of a $10 billion electronic health records contract with Cerner, and shaped the VA's strategic direction without any official appointment. VA Secretary Shulkin had cooperated with the arrangements. He was fired amid internal feuding; Trump nominated his personal physician Ronny Jackson as replacement; Jackson withdrew after Senate investigators documented allegations of drunk driving, overprescribing, and creating a 'toxic work environment.'

Grade 1 of 5: Significant Democratic Concern

Trump Attacked Gold Star Khan Family for Opposing Him at DNC

Captain Humayun Khan was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions on June 8, 2004, when he was killed stopping a suicide car bomb that would have killed many more soldiers. His parents appeared at the DNC in support of Hillary Clinton and against Trump's Muslim ban, which would have prevented their family's immigration. Trump responded by suggesting Ghazala Khan had been silent at the podium because she was 'not allowed' to speak under Islamic tradition — she said she was too overcome by grief to speak. Trump described himself as having made 'sacrifices' comparable to the Khans' loss.