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Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, on Monday called on Doug Collins, the secretary of veterans affairs, to testify at an informal hearing next week to discuss how the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to slash the federal work force have affected veterans and the federal agency that serves them.<\/p>\n
Mr. Collins is all but certain to decline the invitation from Mr. Blumenthal, who as a member of the minority party has no authority to call a hearing or set the panel\u2019s agenda. His attempt to hold a so-called \u201cshadow hearing\u201d is the latest move by top Senate Democrats to try to scrutinize \u2014 and focus public attention on \u2014 the effects of President Trump\u2019s policies on Americans at a time when Republicans who control Congress have refrained so far from using their oversight power to examine his administration\u2019s actions<\/a> in official settings.<\/p>\n Mr. Trump\u2019s initial job reductions at the Veterans Affairs Department, and the cancellation of hundreds of contracts, have caused chaotic ripple effects at the agency<\/a>, disrupting treatment studies and forcing some facilities to fire support staff. Mr. Collins has promised a much deeper round of cuts<\/a> \u2014 eliminating some 80,000 jobs and reviewing tens of thousands of contracts.<\/p>\n In announcing his plan, Mr. Blumenthal emphasized the urgency of congressional oversight during what he called a \u201cmoment of crisis for veterans,\u201d saying in a statement that he and his colleagues on Capitol Hill \u201chave a responsibility to bring to light the impact of Musk-Trump\u2019s disastrous and disgraceful cuts.\u201d He said the hearing was also a bid to ensure that the voices of affected veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs employees were heard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The move underscores a notable deterioration in the normally bipartisan relationship between Mr. Blumenthal and Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, the Republican chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. The senators have maintained a productive working relationship, cosponsoring a range of legislation including measures to expand medical facilities run by the Department of Veterans Affairs and demonstrating a shared commitment to bettering the lives of veterans.<\/p>\n Mr. Blumenthal\u2019s effort mirrors similar action taken by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Banking Committee who in February organized a similar \u201cshadow hearing\u201d to question Elon Musk regarding changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Mr. Musk did not appear, and Democrats had no power to compel him.<\/p>\n The Department of Veterans Affairs, a vast bureaucracy with nearly 500,000 employees, has been a focal point for the Trump administration\u2019s overhaul efforts because of its complex structure and history of scandals and waste<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHearing from veterans and impacted stakeholders firsthand is the first step toward holding this administration accountable for their reckless and lawless directives,\u201d Mr. Blumenthal said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n