VA Oversight Ranking Member Ramirez, Ranking Member Takano Express Outrage over Pause in Veterans Outreach Programs, Call for Answers

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) called for immediate responses from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on their concerning decision to pause comprehensive veterans outreach programs. In a letter addressed to Secretary Doug Collins, the top Democrats outlined the harmful consequences for veterans and their families that any suspension in outreach efforts poses. 

“It makes little sense how abruptly ceasing outreach efforts that communities and veterans rely on will ensure veterans receive the care they have earned when the purpose of those outreach efforts is to streamline access to health care and benefits. There is no reason VA cannot continue its comprehensive outreach program while also working to improve how it facilitates access,” wrote Ramirez and Takano. “We fear that the decision to pause outreach, coupled with ongoing cuts to the VA workforce, will only make it harder, not easier, for veterans to receive their care and benefits from the VA.”

The Ranking Members are demanding the VA answer the following questions by March 21, 2025:

1. Please provide a detailed explanation of the reasoning for issuing the temporary pause of the comprehensive outreach program in Chicago.
2. Please provide a list of the offices and personnel involved in the review of this program’s need for a pause and who is charged with assessing the program before it can be restored for Chicago-area veterans.
3. As of January 20, 2025, have any employees involved in the comprehensive outreach program, through direct or collateral duties, at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center been subject to the mass probationary terminations or Reductions in Force? If so, please list the former employees’ occupation, job title, duty location, job duties, time in federal service, time in VA service, and date of termination. Please also include a count for the number of terminated and non-terminated employees within each of these offices that have had employees terminated.
4. Please provide a full and redacted list of personnel impacted in any geographic location by the pause in the VA outreach program, including occupation, job title, duty location, and job duties. As part of this request, please include information regarding whether the impacted personnel are being considered for Agency Reductions in Force and/or the Reorganization Plan.
5. Please provide full and unredacted copies of any correspondence, documents, or memoranda provided to any VA facility, including the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, from any other VA office, including VA Central Office, directing the facility to pause its outreach program.
6. What is the anticipated length of the temporary pause? When will the comprehensive outreach program in Chicago be reinstated? When will other paused or cancelled outreach events and/or programs in other geographic areas be reinstated?
7. Please provide a detailed analysis of the effects this pause will have on access to care and benefits for veterans in the Chicago area.
8. What resources will be provided to veterans in the Chicago area and other areas identified as having outreach programs paused or cancelled in the interim of this temporary pause?
9. Please provide a detailed list, broken down by Veteran Integrated Service Network, VA Medical Center, partner facility name, state, county, city, and zip code of any ongoing, planned, or future pauses or cancellations of VA outreach events or programs.
10.  Please provide a detailed description of any review VA is conducting or plans to conduct of its outreach programs, including the offices and personnel involved in that review and the programs and facilities subject to that review.
11. What is the role of the Veteran Experience Office in evaluating the VA comprehensive outreach program? Is the Veteran Experience Office involved in the evaluation of any other VA programs related to veteran access to care and benefits?
12. Is the VA planning to alter its outreach program to focus on providing resources and information to veterans that encourage them to seek care in the community in lieu of VA direct care? If so, please describe a detailed description of the changes and the rationale for such changes.

The letter comes in response to a correspondence received by Congresswoman Ramirez’s office and other local offices on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, communicating that the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center would be “temporarily pausing” its comprehensive outreach program effective Friday, March 7, 2025. 

To read the full letter, click here.