Third, it is time for the VA to create a free basic education and training course for all things VA benefits. Denis McDonough, pictured in September 2018, is expected to be named President-elect Joe Biden's pick to run the Department of Veterans Affairs. D enis McDonough, who served as Barack Obama's chief of staff from 2013 to 2017, is now Joe Biden's secretary of veterans affairs. Congress recently mandated that a commission conduct a comprehensive review of VA facilities and determine buildings to close and where to invest. The Department of Veterans Affairs sent a simple "No," in a July 14, 2022, email when asked if the claim was true. In fact, according to the most recent Veteran Benefits Administration annual report to Congress, just one in four veterans alive today receive anything from the VA. A spokesperson for Bost also pointed to Pride flags being flown at VA hospitals in Hines, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, that they said replaced American or other military-related flags. The Honorable Denis Richard McDonough was nominated by President Biden to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. (RELATED: Viral Image Claims Joe Biden Ordered The Department Of Veterans Affairs To Withhold Unvaccinated Veterans Health Benefits). McDonough served as the principal deputy national security adviser under Obama before becoming his chief of staff. Read Next: Feds Sue for Millions in Damages After Osprey Incident at San Diego Airport, "Veterans who have served our country deserve to enter a facility that is free from discrimination and political posturing," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. An Army Couple Had Their Daughter at a Military Hospital. Stop calling us by our last name and last four of our Social Security numbers; we are not numbers in your system -- we are people, with first names and close ties to our branch of service, who courageously volunteered and raised our right hands to defend freedom. Homelessness is a challenge we face as a nation, but importantly it is also a solvable one, said White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden in a press conference on the new initiatives. McDonough Page 3 pretext for discrimination. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes). The claim stems from a satirical website. If it were true, credible news outlets would have reported on it, yet none have. Follow your heart, your gut and your intuition, and always do what is best for veterans. He went on to say that he was committed to a diverse workforce and that he wanted to provide a safe, inclusive environment for veterans and VA employees. Under federal law, veterans who apply for the PACT Act payouts within a year of the bill signing are potentially eligible for retroactive benefits back to that date. Both men were allergic to military interventionand McDonough was an enthusiastic executor of Obama's plan for running foreign policy: concentrating as much . Two other new programs will be aimed directly at helping veterans, however. Special Forces Arrest Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough By Michael Baxter - July 13, 2022 605 8845 She lives in Maryland. The Yankees have had enough of the limelight.". (Jacquelyn Martin/AP). In a statement Thursday, McDonald supported McDonoughs nomination, saying he would be an empathetic leader of the VA. His leadership and support as then White House chief of staff was very helpful to what we achieved while I was secretary, McDonald said. VA workers have high hopes and expectations for Secretary McDonough and the Biden administration, Lee said in a statement. 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His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award. 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WASHINGTON The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to offer gender confirmation surgery to transgender veterans, Denis McDonough, the secretary of veterans affairs, announced over the. This is the right team for this moment in history, and I know that each of these leaders will hit the ground running on day one to take on the interconnected crises families are facing today., Wentling.nikki@stripes.com Twitter: @nikkiwentling. In a letter Tuesday to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., and 30 other House Republicans called the Pride flag a "political symbol" that. Lead Stories is a U.S. based fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or AMVETS suggested McDonough focus on providing mental health care, serving veteran in rural areas and making VA campuses more welcoming to female veterans. It provides benefits and runs the largest health care network in the country, with about 9 million veterans enrolled. The laws include bans on drag shows, transgender youth playing on the sports teams of the gender they identify with, gender-affirming care for minors, and discussion of LGBT issues in schools. U.S. Special Forces on Sunday scored another victory against the Deep State, this time apprehending the criminal Biden regime's secretary of veteran affairs, Denis McDonough, as part of a broad operation aimed at ridding the nation of despots whose treasonous crimes weakened our nation and endangered the lives of American patriots. Denis Richard McDonough, . He vowed to make more of an effort to treat veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma. That money will include training programs for in-demand industries and outreach to community employers to connect them with would-be veteran workers. Brian Reese is a leading expert on and advocate for U.S. veterans' benefits. The first was former Secretary Robert Wilkie, who received nine opposition votes in 2018. Last year, the department provided medical care for more than 9 million veterans and disability benefits for more than 5 million. McDonough began working with Obama in 2007 as the then-senators senior foreign policy adviser. It must be simple and easy to understand for all veterans. Before working in the White House, McDonough held staff positions in the House and Senate. The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans awarded Stars and Stripes the Meritorious Service Award in 2020 for Wentlings reporting on homeless veterans during the coronavirus pandemic. Published: April 27, 2021 copy page link Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images In the universe of historic photographs, few are more iconic this this image of key White House policymakers. He took over the VA after Trump fired Shulkin. Verdict: False There is no evidence to suggest McDonough has been arrested. Denis McDonough, 51, served as deputy national security adviser under Obama and later took the job as Obama's chief of staff. At the VA, McDonough has authorized flying the Pride flag at department facilities during June since the start of the Biden administration in 2021. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award. "But we are moving ahead, methodically, because we want this important change in policy to be implemented in a manner that has been thoroughly considered to ensure that the services made available to veterans meet VA's rigorous standards for quality health care," VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said. Bidens inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20. There shouldn't be any stigma Missteps by Womack Army Medical Center and Tricare landed a Fort Liberty couple in collections. McDonough said in his statement Tuesday that he was impressed by VA employees and intended to be a true partner with them. The backlog. The move comes as the Navy, like most of the other military branches, struggles to meet its recruiting goals for the year. Previous Lead Stories debunks of Real Raw News items is collected here. He is a crisis-tested leader of character with great knowledge, skills and experience in using the levers of government.. At the time, he cautioned that the federal rulemaking process would take years, adding that VA would use the time to develop the capability and capacity to perform the requested surgeries. hide caption. Mr. McDonough's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8th, 2021, and he was sworn in the following day as the 11th Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In reality, there is no mention of his alleged arrest on either the Defense Departments website or the Justice Departments website. Administration officials unveiled the plans on Thursday, calling them the single largest investment in communities homelessness response systems in history. The move comes as Veterans Affairs officials said they are on pace with their goal of permanently housing 38,000 at-risk veterans this year. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request, New VA Gender Affirmation Surgery Policy Sitting on Secretary's Desk, America Celebrates 50 Years of Volunteer Force, But Faces Tough Recruiting Environment, The US Is Considering Providing Cluster Munitions to Ukraine, Says America's Top Military Officer, How 10th Mountain Is Working to Combat Suicide, Army Combat Veteran to Take Over Key Election Security Role Working with State, Local Officials. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Department of Veterans Affairs officials will also work with HUD leaders on a series of boot camps on veterans homelessness throughout the fall, officials said. President Biden gave me a clear mission to be a fierce, staunch advocate for veterans and their families, McDonough said. Albert Einstein once remarked, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.". It should not take an advanced degree and thousands of hours of time in the trenches to obtain VA benefits. In 2018, she was named by the nonprofit HillVets as one of the 100 most influential people in regard to veterans policymaking. Maybe a woman veteran. The pick was seen as a surprise among many in the veterans community, most of whom offered cautious support after the announcement on Thursday. . Under questioning at his confirmation hearing, McDonough said private-sector care was an important part of veterans health care, but that he did not support privatization of the department. As a disabled veteran, I support President-elect Joe Biden's announced intention to nominate Denis McDonough as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but only if he promises to bring about radical change and innovation at the department. The sessions will bring together staffers to talk about best practices in reaching and helping veterans, and finding ways to better coordinate cooperation of numerous federal agencies in focusing on helping homeless veterans. Before working for Obama, McDonough held staff positions in the House and Senate. McDonough gave a nod to that skepticism in his remarks, saying he looks forward to being a partner with the veterans organizations moving ahead. Trans Vets Are Still Waiting. It opened: U.S. Special Forces on Sunday scored another victory against the Deep State, this time apprehending the criminal Biden regime's secretary of veteran affairs, Denis McDonough, as part of a broad operation aimed at ridding the nation of despots whose treasonous crimes weakened our nation and endangered the lives of American patriots. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, and his father suspects exposure to toxic burn pits in Iraq could have been to blame. The move comes as the Navy, like most of the other military branches, struggles to meet its recruiting goals for the year. A post shared on Facebook claims military personnel arrested Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. Lead Stories has covered claims published by Real Raw News in the past. : Marlo Lee is a fact checker at Lead Stories. But it still took me seven years of seemingly endless battles and multiple rounds of denials after leaving the military to finally get the VA benefits I deserved for my honorable service. from around the world. Trans Vets Are Still Waiting. The $3.1 billion boost to the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Continuum of Care program could help offset some of those losses. It's not an easy job, but somebody with Denis' experience of being in the white house and managing so many issues I think is going to be a real asset," Shulkin told NPR. This website contains humor, parody, and satire. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. Despite the progress, however, veterans advocates have warned that the expiration of a host of pandemic-era support programs and grants threatens support systems for vulnerable veterans. Fact Check: McDonough was confirmed by the Senate to be the Veteran Affairs secretary in February 2021 after being nominated for the position by President Joe Biden, according to NPR. Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail: Lead Stories reached out to the Pentagon, and a duty officer there responded by email on July 14, 2022, sayng that this claim was "completely and totally false.". See who is sharing it (it might even be your friends) and leave the link in the comments. It is time for the VA to unite with local communities, including creating and leading in-person and virtual events for veterans worldwide. No, that's not true: A duty officer from the Pentagon told Lead Stories this claim was completely false. We were expecting a veteran, maybe a post-9/11 veteran. Denis McDonough said that finding the right leaders for the department is among his first priorities in office. Nikki Wentling has worked for Stars and Stripes since 2016. Cait Conley will coordinate with federal, state and local officials responsible for ensuring elections are secure ahead of Missteps by Womack Army Medical Center and Tricare landed a Fort Liberty couple in collections. All Rights Reserved. The VA Said It Would Cover Gender Affirmation Surgeries. Maybe a woman veteran. The claim originated in an article published by Real Raw News on July 13, 2022, titled, "Special Forces Arrest Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough" (archived here). Secretary McDonough served in the Obama Administration as the 26th White House Chief of Staff from February 2013 to January 2017. US military should speed up efforts to modernize its forces, top American general says, CENTCOM launches formal investigation into missile strike in Syria that might have killed civilian, Coast Guard hid an investigation into sexual abuse at service academy for years, report says, Brian Newberry, Navys new coach and renaissance man, aims to revive Midshipmen, Pentagon to cover up to $2,000 to transport military families pets, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. McDonough helped lead the Obama-Biden administrations work on behalf of military families and veterans and earned the trust of the president-elect as a first-class manager with the knowledge and vision to deliver results, the official announcement said. "When I make the decision, it will be my job to defend it, and so I want to be in the best position to do that," McDonough said during a press conference with reporters in Washington, D.C. McDonough announced in June 2021 that VA would move to offer surgeries for transgender veterans as part of an effort to provide comprehensive medical care for all veterans and overcome what he described as a "dark history" of discrimination against LGBTQ service members and veterans. Congress passed the bill in 2019, and the VA is still implementing it. His work has earned . Yet his foray into politics began in 1996, when he worked as an aide for the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Like a lot of people who worked in those two administrations,. Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. First, be wary of the deeply entrenched and bureaucratic "advice" you will hear from your leaders. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. The rainbow Pride flag there reportedly replaced an American flag, though local news footage showed that multiple other American flags were still flying at the site. If confirmed, McDonough would become only the second secretary of . The U.S. Senate confirmed VA Secretary nominee Denis R. McDonough on Monday, February 8, 2021. McDonough has said he can use his knowledge of the federal government tot unstick problems inside the VAs sprawling bureaucracy. McDonough did not say why he has delayed his decision, just that he is studying all aspects of the proposal and "all the issues associated with it. His marching order to me is clear fight like hell for Veterans. In my experience, this is due primarily to the lack of basic education and training on the subject. "We must ensure that trans veterans have full access to the spectrum of care at VA. Every day that passes, members of the trans veteran community continue to suffer mental health crises and lose their lives to suicide," Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America, said during a press conference in March. Biden referenced her work in connection with his own wifes past work on the Joining Forces campaign during Obamas presidency. The documents obtained by Military.com said Bellew had no history of diagnosed mental illness or suicidal ideation. She can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Instead, try starting every interaction by asking us for our branch of service. In addition to the VAs core missions to provide health care, benefits and burial for veterans, McDonough said he would help veterans through the pandemic and create a welcoming environment at VA facilities for everyone, including women, minorities and LGBTQ veterans. "You shouldn't," he tells The War Horse. This rumor stems from a website that publishes "humor, parody, and satire." Fact Check: Denis Richard McDonough (born December 2, 1969) is an American government official serving as the eleventh United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Joe Biden since 2021. And I consider myself lucky. A member of Bidens transition team said that McDonough helped lead the Obama administrations work on behalf of military families and veterans and often collaborated with former VA Secretary Bob McDonald on policy priorities. Of course, it's not every day that the U.S. Air Force celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ability to keep airplanes in the air indefinitely, through aerial refueling. Or maybe a veteran who knows the VA exceptionally well," Chenelly said in a statement. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request, House GOP Claims Pride Month Flags at VA Facilities Are 'Discrimination, Political Posturing', America Celebrates 50 Years of Volunteer Force, But Faces Tough Recruiting Environment, The US Is Considering Providing Cluster Munitions to Ukraine, Says America's Top Military Officer, How 10th Mountain Is Working to Combat Suicide, Army Combat Veteran to Take Over Key Election Security Role Working with State, Local Officials. Members of Bidens transition team have emphasized McDonoughs past work behind-the-scenes on VA issues in the wake of the 2014 wait time scandals, which forced the resignation of then VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. The Senate voted 87-7 on Monday to confirm President Biden's pick, Denis McDonough, to serve as Veterans Affairs secretary, making him only the second non-veteran to lead the troubled. (Source: RealRawNews.com screenshot taken Tue Aug 3 16:39:48 UTC 2021). The Air Force's Air . Monday's decision to take . A member of the transition team, speaking anonymously, said Biden chose McDonough because hes a crisis-tested public servant with the empathy, the character, the integrity and ethics, and the relentless work ethic the position demands.. The claim is baseless. Tanden called the success in reducing the number of homeless veterans over the last decade a model for other government support efforts, but also said that more still needs to be done.