{"id":2406618,"date":"2025-02-25T16:11:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/va-secretary-reveals-cut-contracts-saved-almost-2-billion\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T16:15:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:15:58","slug":"va-secretary-reveals-cut-contracts-saved-almost-2-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/va-secretary-reveals-cut-contracts-saved-almost-2-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"VA secretary reveals cut contracts saved almost $2 billion"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fva-secretary-reveals-cut-contracts-saved-almost-2-billion%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2406618&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins announced \u200dsignificant \u200dcost savings of\u200d nearly $2 billion\u200b by terminating unneeded contracts within the department.\u200c this move comes amid the layoffs of\u200d around 1,000 \u200cemployees \u2063and\u2064 existing \u2064staffing shortages, as reported by the \u200cOffice of the Inspector General. The\u2064 terminated contracts included services such\u200b as training and administrative tasks, which Collins criticized as \u200dredundant. In a video\u2063 message, he \u200bencouraged employees \u2063to learn necessary skills, like using PowerPoint, independently \u200crather than relying on consultants. Collins stressed that these savings would be redirected to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">improve veterans&#8217; healthcare<\/a> and benefits, countering\u2062 concerns raised by critics. Additionally, he hinted at the potential for further cuts to\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-what-doge-is-doing-across-the-federal-government-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s what DOGE is doing across the federal government - Washington Examiner\">wasteful contracts<\/a> in\u200c the future.\u2063 these actions \u2062are part\u200d of a broader\u200b initiative to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-kevin-mccarthy-gives-speech-on-house-floor-after-winning-speakership\/\" title=\"WATCH: Kevin McCarthy Gives Speech On House Floor After Winning Speakership\">eliminate wasteful spending<\/a> within \u2063the department.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Veterans Affairs secretary reveals almost $2 billion saved in cut contracts<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1941339\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/veterans-affairs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Veterans Affairs<\/a> Secretary Doug Collins announced Tuesday that his department saved nearly $2 billion by ending contracts he deemed no longer necessary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The announcement came as roughly 1,000 employees were laid off from the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the Office of the Inspector General, <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">almost&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaoig.gov\/reports\/national-healthcare-review\/oig-determination-veterans-health-administrations-severe-0\" target=\"_blank\">3,000 shortages<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;were already occurring&nbsp;across the department last year.<\/p>\n<p>Collins explained that these contracts included training, executive support, Microsoft PowerPoint tutorials, and meeting minutes. In a video posted to X, Collins mocked the now-defunct contracts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Folks, if you don&rsquo;t know how to run PowerPoint slides, learn. It&rsquo;s a tutorial on your computer. Go learn for free it&rsquo;s okay,&rdquo; Collins said. &ldquo;Take your own notes. Wow. I&rsquo;ll send you one of my pencils if you need one.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We found nearly $2 billion in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DeptVetAffairs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DeptVetAffairs<\/a> contracts that we&rsquo;ll be canceling so we can redirect the funds back to Veterans health care and benefits. <br \/>No more paying consultants to do things like make Power Point slides and write meeting minutes! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/z1gv3PKhfA\">pic.twitter.com\/z1gv3PKhfA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecVetAffairs\/status\/1894426832641913204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Collins suggested that more contracts would be put on the cutting room floor to save the department even more. As of Tuesday afternoon, his video had been viewed over 2.1 million times on X with over 17,000 likes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3324712\/howard-lutnick-says-elon-musk-committed-cut-1-trillion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"HOWARD LUTNICK SAYS ELON MUSK COMMITTED TO CUT $1 TRILLION\">HOWARD LUTNICK SAYS ELON MUSK COMMITTED TO CUT $1 TRILLION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are putting money back to veterans&rsquo; health, back to veteran&rsquo;s benefits, and don&rsquo;t let nameless sources &mdash; even Senators and House members who want to scare you and the media who wants to perpetuate the line &mdash; we&rsquo;re taking care of veterans,&rdquo; Collins said. &ldquo;I promised you that from day one.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>In the first month of its creation, DOGE identified government contracts, leases, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amy-klobuchar-says-doges-shock-cuts-arent-effective\/\" title=\"Amy Klobuchar says DOGE&#039;s &#039;shock&#039; cuts aren&#039;t &#039;effective&#039;\">grants deemed wasteful spending<\/a> and cut them, sparking legal battles.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3323628\/has-doge-really-saved-55-billion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According<\/a>&nbsp;to the department, this has already saved $55&nbsp;billion. President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3328181\/watch-live-trump-macron-hold-joint-press-conference-russia-ukraine-war-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"claimed\">claimed<\/a> to have found &ldquo;hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud&rdquo; last week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1941339\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1941339\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Veterans Affairs saves nearly $2 billion by cutting contracts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2406619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25021578724912-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[38037,12735,9894,3779,51082],"class_list":["post-2406618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-budget-cuts","tag-contracts","tag-savings","tag-secretary","tag-va-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25021578724912-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2406618"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2406626,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406618\/revisions\/2406626"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2406619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2406618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2406618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2406618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}