VA Secretary clashes with reporter for spreading ‘rumors’ about DOGE

The Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins accused a reporter of distributing “rumors” and “insinuation” in regards to the actions of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (Doge) at an interview that Viral went on social media.

In a clip on his X account on Tuesday, Collins Navy.com reporter Patricia Kime confronted her February 5, article entitled: “Elon Musk Aide now works at VA and entry to his pc programs.”

Collins took out a printed copy of the report and accused Kime of attempting to “frighten” veterans by quoting unconfirmed rumors in regards to the actions of Doge within the division.

“The one factor I appeared to do these days fights again towards Innuendo and rumor tales … In actual fact, Patricia, is a part of you,” he mentioned, giving the newspaper to Kime.

Senate confirms Doug Collins to guide the Division of Veterans Affairs

Regardless of the firing of no less than 2,400 staff, Veteran Affairs Doug Collins maintains the dedication of the VA to keep up and enhance the advantages for well being take care of veterans. (Getty)

“I simply want your assist, as a result of if you happen to begin the headlines with ‘there’s a rumor’ and that ‘we’ve heard that’, that my veterans harm, that scares my veterans. That makes my staff afraid. As a result of it’s not true,” Collins mentioned.

“Do you not wish to do your self sooner or later?” He pressed the reporter.

Collins continued to inform Kime that she ought to have requested a doge contact particular person about these rumors, to which she mentioned she did that.

The Military.com report Cited “rumors” about doge staff who go to the VA that week “with an intention of reclaiming knowledge on compensation and advantages of disabilities.”

The report quoted {that a} VA spokesperson who confirms a single doge worker is instructed to determine waste and enhance effectivity, however denied that this particular person would have entry to knowledge from veterans or beneficiaries.

Elon Musk, the chairman of Doge, has dedicated himself to decrease waste within the federal authorities. (Getty Photos)

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Collins criticized Kime for quoting non -supported claims from the start, and informed her that these claims had been ‘true or false’.

He continued to scold the reporter to cite a press launch from Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., Wherein the senator claimed that Doge might need been put into the VA that day “.

That’s “unconfirmed listening to,” Collins mentioned, and informed Kime that she ought to have referred to as it an “unconfirmed report”.

“So, Patricia, I wish to work along with you, however I would like you to interrupt me that you’re not going to do that,” he mentioned.

“That’s trustworthy. I work on it,” Kime replied earlier than he tried to ask Collins a comply with -up query, however he insisted on answering his query.

“No, I wish to hear the reply first. Do you not imply rumors? Since you scare my VA staff about this and also you scare my veterans,” he mentioned.

A army veteran greets throughout a ceremony on the 9/11 Memorial, on 10 September 2023 in Heckscher Park, in Huntington, New York. (James Carbone/NewSday RM by way of Getty photos)

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Kime pushed again on the characterization of Collins of her report and mentioned: “I’ve issues dissecting my issues, however that is wonderful.”

Collins continued to argue with Kime over her head and the small print in her report earlier than she mentioned: “I wish to work with you numerous once we proceed. We can have a whole lot of time collectively. However I’m not going to afraid of my staff and frighten the veterans. And that’s what this does. Let’s do it nicely.”

“I’m probably the most clear VA secretary we’ve had up to now. I’m on video, I’m on interviews, I do every little thing to push again towards every little thing I hear. So we’ve a crew that may aid you, however I would like your dedication to assist me too,” he added.

The clip of the interview had collected greater than 1 million views on the X account of Collins in lower than 24 hours.

Doug Collins is sworn in throughout the affirmation of his Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee affirmation listening to within the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Samuel Corum/Getty photos)

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Zachary Fryer-Biggs, editor-in-chief for Navy.com, defended Kime in a fiery response positioned on X and shared with Fox Information Digital.

“Mr. The Secretary-U intentionally displayed what was in that story, a the place your individual press workplace confirmed and was quoted. Patricia won’t be distracted by this nonsense, she’s going to proceed to do the necessary report she has made for years,” wrote Fryer-Biggs on X.

When he was reached for remark, a civil servant for the VA informed FOX Information Digital: “With out even quoting a supply, Patricia Kime reported about ‘rumors’ that DOGE -representatives would have entry to VA -Invalidity compensation and profit data.”

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Collins has defended DOGE cuts on the VA as a part of the brand new authorities’s efforts to reform the division and to serve veterans.

In a single press release Final month, the VA introduced that the dismissal of greater than 1,000 staff would allow the division to revive greater than $ 98 million a yr to well being care, advantages and providers for beneficiaries.