Doug Collins, newly appointed as the 12th Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump for the nomination and laid out his vision for improving the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Rep. Doug Collins testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Jan. 21, 2025. President Trump nominated former Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins is a former Georgia congressman and a chaplain of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.

On his first day in office, Collins emphasized a commitment to transparency, accountability, and prioritizing veterans’ needs.

In a video message from his new office, Collins shared his initial thoughts on taking the helm at the VA.

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“Hey everybody, it’s Doug Collins, wow. First day on the job. I want to thank President Trump for nominating me to be the 12th VA Secretary,” Collins said.

“I’m here in my new office. It’s like most days, you know, it’s a new shark. I’m learning the ropes, learning where to go, who to see, even, yeah, probably trying to find the bathroom.”

While acknowledging the adjustment period that comes with the new role, Collins made it clear that his mission is already set in stone.

“But you know, there’s one thing I don’t have to look for, and that’s my mission here. My mission is for our vets,” Collins stated.

“Our mission is that the VA will be so America first focused, because America first puts our veterans first. That’s what you’re going to get from me.”

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Collins pledged to keep the public informed about the progress and initiatives at the VA, ensuring that veterans and employees alike are aware of the department’s direction under his leadership.

“You see me a lot here. I’m going to keep you up to date. We’re going to be transparent, because our veterans deserve nothing better,” he said.

In addition to improving transparency, Collins made it clear that VA employees would be held to a high standard to ensure they are delivering the best care and services to America’s veterans.

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“And to the veterans who work at the VA and the employees at the VA, you’re not going to have a better friend than me, because I’m going to raise the bar, hold you accountable, because we have a job to do,” Collins said.

Collins reinforced that his primary focus as VA Secretary will be to ensure veterans receive the best possible care and support.

“Mission one, starting today, our vets,” he concluded.

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With Collins now leading the VA, his commitment to reform, accountability, and putting veterans first will be closely watched as he works to fulfill his promises to those who have served the nation.

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