Trump's VA choice is both low key and a pretty good decision
I am not going to get too caught up with the choices that Trump makes, as there will be many people talking about them. One that is flying under the radar, as it only affects a small part of the population, is the choice for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Doug Collins is a Georgia politician and a chaplain that first served in the Navy and now serves in the Air Force.
Collins is also a known Trump ally, which is the primary reason he was chosen. He has not won an election since 2021, but served several terms in the House. While he has no direct legislative record with veteran issues, he has supported good bills that has helped veterans. Being a veteran, chaplain, and someone who has walked the halls of Congress can serve his brothers and sisters in uniform in a meaningful way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Collins_(politician)
https://americafirstpolicy.com/team/doug-collins
Military Record
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/11/15/who-doug-collins-look-trumps-pick-head-va.html?ESRC=mr_241118.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mr&utm_campaign=20241118
The start of Collins' time in the military started in the Navy, where he served 2 years as a chaplain in the late 80s. After the September 11th Attacks, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a chaplain again. He still serves and currently a Colonel in the Chaplain Corps. He was sent to serve a tour at Balad Air Base in the Sunni Triangle in Iraq from 2008 to 2009. Furthermore, he is a member of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, GA.
A military chaplain goes far beyond being in charge of a church, which is part of the reason he would come in already understanding what those who served went through. They deal with those who have been injured, need counseling, and helps deal with many other issues. He will understand what veterans go through while they're on active duty.
Record as Politician
https://apnews.com/article/trump-doug-collins-veterans-affairs-va-georgia-f9a14a486cb12fd5ac3f07b3068eb20a
Collins started his career as a politician by serving 3 terms in the Georgia House of Representatives for the Georgia's 27th district. That was from 2007 to 2013, with one of his assignments being on the state Defense and Veterans Affairs committee.
He would then get elected House of Representatives for the 9th District, where he served from 2013 to 2021. He served on the Rules, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Collins defended Trump during the Robert Mueller investigation, which has made Trump trust him. Trump tried to get Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to appoint Collins after Senator Johnny Isakson resigned. Kemp picked someone else to buck Trump.
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