Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill unfairly hurts veteran healthcare
President Donald Trump doesn’t know what it’s like to be a veteran. And, based on his policies, he doesn’t care to learn from those of us who do.
Veteran expresses concern about Trump budget cuts to VA health care
Veteran Richard Harris expresses concern about President Donald Trump’s budget cuts to VA health care recommended by billionaire advisor Elon Musk.
- Trump administration policies, including budget cuts and a new directive, are negatively impacting health care access for veterans.
- The new directive allows VA doctors to refuse treatment to veterans based on marital status and political affiliation.
- These policies exacerbate existing challenges faced by veterans, such as long wait times for claims and limited access to care.
- Veterans who have served their country should not face discrimination or political intimidation.
Imagine going to war to protect your country and coming home to find your country no longer protects you.
Under President Donald Trump, this will be the new reality for the 15 million veterans who depend on VA health care. His “big, beautiful” budget includes cuts to the VA, meaning Kentucky veterans like me would have to wait longer for the medical care, including mental health care, that was promised to us in exchange for service to our country.
His disrespect toward those that have served doesn’t stop there: Now, Trump and his allies have told VA doctors it’s OK to refuse to treat veterans who are unmarried or Democrats, picking and choosing which among us are worthy of care.
One doctor called the change “extremely disturbing and unethical.” While that’s how you could describe a lot of Trump’s decisions these days, this one targets our troops with a dangerous type of loyalty test — as if being willing to die for your country wasn’t test enough.
Kentucky vets already wait months to settle VA claims and get the benefits and care they’ve earned. Now, between Trump’s mass VA layoffs, proposed budget cuts and this new mandate for discrimination, the gap between what Kentucky veterans get and what they deserve will get even wider.
People willing to fight for this country should not have to wait months for benefits and be forced to drive hours just to see a doctor. And they shouldn’t have to worry about getting turned away for wearing the wrong hat.
It is an insult to subject these men and women to political intimidation tactics after they’ve put their lives on the line to defend democracy, religious freedom, freedom of speech — the most valuable principles of our nation. And I’ll tell you, discrimination ain’t one of them.
Taking care of veterans should be a place where Democrats and Republicans find common ground, but right now the GOP is applauding a man who uses troops as birthday party decorations while cutting the care they need to survive.
Donald Trump doesn’t know what it’s like to be a veteran. And, based on his policies, he doesn’t care to learn from those of us who do. We cannot let our troops come home to a country where their lawful political beliefs could get them punished. If someone is willing to defend American principles with their life, we’d better make damn sure those principles apply to them, too.
Bud Andrews is a retired Army master sergeant who lives in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
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