House Republicans sideline VA secretary in veterans benefits bill talks

House Republicans working to revive a stalled veterans health bill are excluding Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins from closed-door negotiations, after some senior GOP lawmakers and Trump administration officials blamed him for the collapse of a planned House vote in July, according to multiple sources involved in drafting the legislation.

Sources said Collins initially told Republican leadership he supported the measure but later signaled to some lawmakers that he shared their concerns, creating confusion that contributed to wavering GOP support before the bill was pulled from the floor. The VA denied Collins worked against the bill, with a spokesperson saying the administration and Collins broadly support the legislation, though it "could benefit from some amendments."

The bill, called the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, would cut future disability benefits for some veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea to help fund a measure allowing veterans to collect both retirement and combat-injury benefits simultaneously, which is currently barred. It also aims to expand access to private-sector care, reduce wait times and extend benefits to remarried spouses of deceased veterans. Democrats and groups including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans oppose the bill, while the American Legion and Concerned Veterans for America support it.

The White House said it is unlikely to remove Collins from his post for now, though officials have increased scrutiny of his travel and role in departmental priorities. A White House spokeswoman said Collins is doing a "great job," while a GOP member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee defended his work with lawmakers. The House left for summer recess after the bill was pulled, and discussions on reviving it are continuing without Collins' involvement.

Read the full story at CNN.