Republican lawmakers turn their backs on Michigan veterans
LANSING, Mich., April 25, 2025 — A House Republican made disparaging comments about the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency yesterday during the House Appropriations Subcommittee meeting on Military and Veterans Affairs, suggesting the agency is a “total scam” and should be defunded. Michigan veterans rely on the agency to receive their hard-earned benefits and access to health care, including mental health and crisis care. These comments follow the proposed defunding of the agency by the Republican budget that passed the Michigan House in March.
“I was appalled to hear that an elected representative would even suggest defunding the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and insult the thousands of veterans who’ve served our nation with honor,” said state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). “House Republicans are bringing Trump’s chaos to Michigan, defunding essential government services with no plan to ensure those who rely on them continue to receive the assistance they need. House Dems will not allow veterans to be collateral damage in their political games.”
The Michigan VAA offers many important resources for veterans struggling with the impact of their service. It also provides programs to prevent veteran suicide, which would be defunded under the Republican budget that passed the House earlier this term.
“The comments made in the subcommittee meeting were a slap in the face to Michigan veterans who have sacrificed everything for their country,” said state Rep. Denise Mentzer (D-Mt. Clemens). “We need to take care of our veterans, and Michigan VAA employees play an important role in connecting them with the resources they need or providing care. Defunding this essential agency would result in an unacceptable lapse in services for veterans, and we will not stand for it.”
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system that serves nearly 9 million veterans in the United States each year, staffed by top-notch doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who provide exceptional care. Michigan veterans rely on the VA health benefits they earned, and any loss in funding could disrupt their health care access.
“Veterans deserve the highest quality of support and it is our job to ensure they receive that,” said state Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor Charter Twp.). “Suggesting the Michigan VAA should be defunded is a direct threat to their health care access and sends the wrong message to veterans and those who care for them. The Republican comments made in committee were unconscionable and go against the very ideals we hold sacred as a country.”
“As a practicing health care provider, defunding programs that provide essential care to veterans raises serious concerns,” said state Rep. Julie M. Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), minority vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs. “Many veterans live with chronic injuries or conditions related to their service that require ongoing care, and they rely on consistent, accessible support. Proposals to eliminate funding for this care are frankly unacceptable.”
In addition to the health care and other benefits, the agency also helps provide assistance to veterans to find careers following their service. Veterans may face unique hardships that these services help them navigate, and many veterans themselves find rewarding employment within the VAA, helping others.
“As a veteran, I found the House Republicans’ willingness to cut funding for veteran services reckless and a betrayal to those who served in uniform,” said state Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit). “Thousands of veterans across Michigan rely on the essential services provided by the MVAA, including health care, suicide prevention support and receiving their benefits and employment opportunities. To say that these are programs the state should be defunding demonstrates a complete lack of understanding and empathy for the sacrifices veterans make for our country.”
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