The Trump Administration ordered VA hospitals to strip anti-discrimination protections—targeting veterans for their politics, marital status, and identity. The AMA is outraged. Doctors are protesting. And now Congress is stepping in.
Thank you Kris. I really appreciate your work on this. I had read the Guardian article but you have brought so much more to this. As a female 100% disabled veteran whose only medical care is through the VA and only income is my VA disability I am beyond enraged. I know the lip service they give but they can’t make those cuts without cutting our throats. The lies can’t cover the simple truth of the math. As an unmarried disabled female veteran from the 1st Gulf War and no safety net I and my soon to be 80 year old mother are about to lose everything. While they are also trying to remove our right to vote because both of us were married and changed our names. We and millions like us are being deemed unfit to live by this fascist regime. This is a simple policy of Genocide by Defunding and the stripping of all human rights and constitutional rights.
The rule Kris is referring to may be in violation of federal law because in certain instances it would effectively deny medical care to veterans who are legally entitled to it.
For example, if there are no doctors or psychologists at a VA hospital or clinic who are willing to provide treatment to LGBTQ+ veterans, unmarried veterans, or veterans who identify as Democrats the U.S. government would essentially be denying care to veterans who are legally entitled to it.
I suppose that if these veterans have access to TRICARE they can use it but TRICARE requires at least a 30% disability rating from the U.S. military or VA for veterans to be eligible for and utilize (I think). And many veterans do not have that.
I did not see any coverage at all last night on MSNBC regarding this disgrace. The silence was deafening, and in the immortal words of Barry McGuire “my blood’s so mad, feels like coagulatin’.”
If your provider, that you are assigned to refuses to treat you accordingly it can be difficult to get switched to another panel. The VA is short on Providers in Primary Care. If the VA deems your status as LGBTQ or condition as something that is deems you as ineligible your care will not be covered under PACT ACT or Community Care Guidelines more than likely. Common Care needs a Primary Care to route thru consults and medications through.
My future son in law just finished a year residency at a VA in Florida. He said the "management" was so racist, it was disgusting. Just another thing trump has ruined.
That's consistent with what I experienced many years ago at the V.A. although I observed it could vary significantly from one V.A. facility to the next.
Democrats in Congress should do everything within their power to shut down the entire federal government until this lawlessness and constitution trashing stops including blocking all U.S. military promotions for 0-7 and above.
Because even though the United States faces many serious threats right now Trump and his MAGAt fascist regime are Public Enemy Number One. And should be treated that way by all Americans who do not support them.
This is a DANGEROUSLY slippery slope if not just blatantly unjust treatment. Raise hell folks….raise unholy fucking he’ll if you support your veterans!!!!!
I'm not an attny so I'm asking… do these changes also allow medical personnel to refuse to treat “enemy” personnel in a so called warfighting situation. (Warfighting is not a word. “Combat” is the correct word but right now the upper echelons of the military are focused on warfighting so we can only assume they're planning ahead for that.)
At the same time, the Senate is planning to ram a bunch of provisions hidden in the "big beautiful" budget bill. Section 70302, originally just one paragraph in that 1,100 page bill that the House passed, would render the Judiciary "virtually powerless in protecting your rights if the current budget bill becomes law --
says this warning from an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that Thom Hartmann warned about a few weeks ago.
So far, only Reuters and Politico have reported this story.
Mainstream media's reporting stories for ratings. This provision, if it remains in the budget bill and that gets passed into law, will end democracy as we've known it.
Also, the Reuters story reports on the No Rogue Rulings Act, which is a separate bill.
These stories -- especially this one about Section 70302 in the budget bill -- need to get out there ASAP in a much bigger way!
The courts might strike down this egregious provision if it passes through Congress and is signed into law because it would effectively deny individual U.S. citizens the right to petition their government, as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Just as veterans like me are paying attention to the right wing politicalization of Veterans Administration (VA) for the purpose of denying care to veterans, ordinary citizens should be identifying and taking notes on ALL the corporations, businesses, academic institutions, law firms, and politicians eagerly helping the Trump administration eliminate equal rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public and private institutions.
This is some pretty serious B*******. I mean there's lots to be outraged about but this is extremely outrageous
Kris, you are an exceptionally fine writer.
The Masha Gessen quote should chill us all.
Thank you Kris. I really appreciate your work on this. I had read the Guardian article but you have brought so much more to this. As a female 100% disabled veteran whose only medical care is through the VA and only income is my VA disability I am beyond enraged. I know the lip service they give but they can’t make those cuts without cutting our throats. The lies can’t cover the simple truth of the math. As an unmarried disabled female veteran from the 1st Gulf War and no safety net I and my soon to be 80 year old mother are about to lose everything. While they are also trying to remove our right to vote because both of us were married and changed our names. We and millions like us are being deemed unfit to live by this fascist regime. This is a simple policy of Genocide by Defunding and the stripping of all human rights and constitutional rights.
The rule Kris is referring to may be in violation of federal law because in certain instances it would effectively deny medical care to veterans who are legally entitled to it.
For example, if there are no doctors or psychologists at a VA hospital or clinic who are willing to provide treatment to LGBTQ+ veterans, unmarried veterans, or veterans who identify as Democrats the U.S. government would essentially be denying care to veterans who are legally entitled to it.
I suppose that if these veterans have access to TRICARE they can use it but TRICARE requires at least a 30% disability rating from the U.S. military or VA for veterans to be eligible for and utilize (I think). And many veterans do not have that.
I did not see any coverage at all last night on MSNBC regarding this disgrace. The silence was deafening, and in the immortal words of Barry McGuire “my blood’s so mad, feels like coagulatin’.”
If your provider, that you are assigned to refuses to treat you accordingly it can be difficult to get switched to another panel. The VA is short on Providers in Primary Care. If the VA deems your status as LGBTQ or condition as something that is deems you as ineligible your care will not be covered under PACT ACT or Community Care Guidelines more than likely. Common Care needs a Primary Care to route thru consults and medications through.
My future son in law just finished a year residency at a VA in Florida. He said the "management" was so racist, it was disgusting. Just another thing trump has ruined.
That's consistent with what I experienced many years ago at the V.A. although I observed it could vary significantly from one V.A. facility to the next.
Kris,
Democrats in Congress should do everything within their power to shut down the entire federal government until this lawlessness and constitution trashing stops including blocking all U.S. military promotions for 0-7 and above.
Because even though the United States faces many serious threats right now Trump and his MAGAt fascist regime are Public Enemy Number One. And should be treated that way by all Americans who do not support them.
Already wrote my dumbass Congressman Andy Harris and both Dem Senators
This is a DANGEROUSLY slippery slope if not just blatantly unjust treatment. Raise hell folks….raise unholy fucking he’ll if you support your veterans!!!!!
I'm not an attny so I'm asking… do these changes also allow medical personnel to refuse to treat “enemy” personnel in a so called warfighting situation. (Warfighting is not a word. “Combat” is the correct word but right now the upper echelons of the military are focused on warfighting so we can only assume they're planning ahead for that.)
This is dangerous and unbelievably stupid!
At the same time, the Senate is planning to ram a bunch of provisions hidden in the "big beautiful" budget bill. Section 70302, originally just one paragraph in that 1,100 page bill that the House passed, would render the Judiciary "virtually powerless in protecting your rights if the current budget bill becomes law --
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-judiciary-will-become-virtually?r=c3b0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false --
says this warning from an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that Thom Hartmann warned about a few weeks ago.
So far, only Reuters and Politico have reported this story.
Mainstream media's reporting stories for ratings. This provision, if it remains in the budget bill and that gets passed into law, will end democracy as we've known it.
Also, the Reuters story reports on the No Rogue Rulings Act, which is a separate bill.
These stories -- especially this one about Section 70302 in the budget bill -- need to get out there ASAP in a much bigger way!
The courts might strike down this egregious provision if it passes through Congress and is signed into law because it would effectively deny individual U.S. citizens the right to petition their government, as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Thank you for this important information.
Additionally, disability is legally protected under ADA, so courts get ready!
The Trump Administration is already attacking ADA laws SCOTUS made a monster
Just as veterans like me are paying attention to the right wing politicalization of Veterans Administration (VA) for the purpose of denying care to veterans, ordinary citizens should be identifying and taking notes on ALL the corporations, businesses, academic institutions, law firms, and politicians eagerly helping the Trump administration eliminate equal rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public and private institutions.
This is BAD!
National origin: everyone should reply they originate from the United states of America
Total fucking bullshit! Veterans deserve better! Hopefully many will come out for the next protest too!!
Thank you Kris for your steadfast work and clarity 💥