WASHINGTON 鈥� The proposed budget that President Donald Trump released earlier this week includes deep cuts to most federal agencies, with three exceptions: the departments of defense, homeland security and veteran鈥檚 affairs.
The president made support for veterans a key promise during his campaign, and on Friday morning he met with representatives of 10 veterans groups, including , a nonprofit that 鈥渂elieves veterans are leaders, team builders, and problem solvers, who have the unique potential to lead a resurgence of community across the nation.鈥�
The group鈥檚 executive director, Bill Rausch, told 草莓传媒 Friday afternoon that the meeting was a productive first step.
鈥淗e was fully committed to supporting veterans,鈥� he said.
Rausch said he was heartened by the Trump plan鈥檚 six percent increase to the Department of Veterans Affairs, but the group鈥檚 first concern was about who would lead the VA. He said the group was 鈥減roud to support鈥� Dr. David Shulkin, who is, Rausch pointed out, 鈥渢he first non-veteran to lead the agency, but also the first physician to lead the agency, which we think is very important.鈥�
While the increase in VA spending was welcome, Rausch said that his specific message to the president was to emphasize the need to support not only VA but the 13 million veterans who, Rausch said, aren鈥檛 even enrolled the VA 鈥� a majority of the nation鈥檚 21.8 million vets.
鈥淭hat was really our thrust 鈥� veterans are as diverse as the country they serve, and the Department of Veterans Affairs in and of itself isn鈥檛 addressing [all] veterans鈥� issues.鈥�
VA ‘isn’t enough’
Rausch, an Iraq War veteran, added that 鈥淰eterans are receiving support through the government, but also through nongovernmental efforts鈥� 鈥� therefore, support for the VA 鈥渋s important, but it isn鈥檛 enough.鈥�
Many of the services that would be cut in the president鈥檚 proposed budget are used by veterans as well, and Rausch said, 鈥淲e鈥檙e paying close attention to Congress to see if they can strike the right balance鈥� in terms of funding.
Rausch said he asked Trump to establish a White House Office of Veterans鈥� Empowerment 鈥渢o truly represent all veterans, again recognizing that the VA 鈥� doesn鈥檛 incorporate the entire veteran population.鈥� He said Trump was receptive and asked Vice President Mike Pence, whose son is serving in the Marines, to take it on.
Overall, Rausch said, the meeting was a 鈥減ositive first step.鈥�
鈥淲e believe the president supports veterans. We want to work with the administration and educate and inform them on how best to support veterans 鈥� at the VA, but then [also] across government and nongovernment sectors.鈥�
