All articles tagged with #veterans
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas says she is not MAGA and did not intend to support MAGA policies; she claims the donations shown in FEC records were made without reading the fine print and were meant for causes against human trafficking and for veterans, apologizing for the confusion as scrutiny intensified.
A Rhode Island federal judge moved to enforce an injunction ordering the VA to reinstate AFGE’s contract after the department again terminated the CBA, with possible contempt proceedings for a “blatant” violation of the court order; the VA argues the retermination moots the proceedings, while AFGE contends the department is noncompliant and not honoring contract provisions, and the judge set a deadline for the agency to explain why it shouldn’t be held in contempt.
The 2026 NFL free-agent market still has several high-profile veterans unsigned who could become major bargains for teams willing to gamble on short-term deals, including Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Calais Campbell, Taylor Decker, Kevin Zeitler, Rasul Douglas, Joey Bosa, Kirk Cousins, and Shaq Thompson. While some marquee names signed earlier in the tampering window, these players could reshape rosters late in the cycle as teams balance cap needs, age, and injury risk, often pursuing one-year contracts with the potential for high impact if they stay healthy.
An Afghan man who served with U.S. special forces and had sought asylum in the United States died in ICE custody in Dallas less than 24 hours after his arrest outside his apartment. Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, reportedly had no known health conditions and had been granted humanitarian parole that expired last August. He complained of shortness of breath and chest pains during a medical intake, was taken to a Dallas hospital, and died after CPR was performed; the Dallas County Medical Examiner had not yet listed a cause of death. Paktyawal’s death is the 12th detainee death in ICE custody this year and has sparked grief in the Afghan diaspora in Texas. Advocates say he served alongside U.S. forces; AfghanEvac provided a certificate of service, though DHS says he did not report military service upon entry.
A VA-led cohort study of 606,434 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 medicines (including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound) are associated with a lower risk of developing substance use disorders across alcohol, opioids, nicotine, cocaine, cannabis and other substances—and with fewer hospitalizations, overdoses, and deaths among veterans who already have an addiction. The study also notes a 25% reduction in suicidal ideation. As observational research, it cannot prove causation, and results may reflect greater health engagement; randomized trials are underway, and GLP-1s are not yet approved as addiction treatments.
The Trump administration, in partnership with the Justice Department, announced a plan to empower VA attorneys to pursue legal guardianships for homeless or incapacitated veterans who cannot make medical decisions, potentially moving them into involuntary or long-term care; a pilot called Project Safe Harbor will test the approach in five VA hubs, reflecting a broader push to use guardianship tools to compel treatment for mental illness and addiction, a shift critics warn risks civil liberties while supporters argue it could provide structured care; guardianships are broader and longer-lasting than civil commitments, and their implementation will require coordination across agencies. There are about 33,000 homeless veterans in the U.S., including roughly 14,000 who are unsheltered.
A BMJ study using electronic health records from over 600,000 US veterans found that starting GLP-1 drugs (such as semaglutide/Ozempic, liraglutide, and tirzepatide) was associated with a 14% lower risk of developing a new substance-use disorder, and among those with existing disorders, a 26% reduction in substance-related hospital admissions, a 39% drop in overdoses, and a 50% decrease in deaths over three years. The study used an observational approach with target-trial emulation, so it shows associations rather than proven causation, and results may not generalize beyond an older, predominantly male veteran population. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm causality and applicability to broader groups.
A large observational study of electronic health records from over 600,000 US veterans found that GLP-1 drugs used for obesity and type 2 diabetes were associated with reduced risk of developing substance-use disorders and, among those with addiction, about a 50% lower risk of death from substance abuse. Among GLP-1 users with no prior addiction, three-year risks were 18% lower for alcohol, 14% lower for cannabis, 20% lower for cocaine, 20% lower for nicotine, and 25% lower for opioids compared with users of another diabetes medication, though randomized trials are needed to establish causality.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Scouting America will drop diversity, equity and inclusion programs and restrict participation to those who join in their biological gender to preserve its long-standing relationship with the U.S. military, while girls are allowed to participate for now and transgender children are denied entry.
The Department of Veterans Affairs halted enforcement of a rule that would have cut disability compensation for veterans filing claims, reversing course after backlash from veterans groups who warned it would harm those needing medications.
The Disabled American Veterans welcomed VA Secretary Collins’ decision to halt the implementation of a new rule that would weigh a veteran’s medication use in disability evaluations. After veterans voiced concerns, the halt took effect as of Feb. 19, with DAV releasing an updated statement and a Q&A to address common questions.
Three Vietnam War veterans and a historic preservationist filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing a proposed 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery would disrupt visitors’ experience and undermine nearby monuments.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will immediately stop enforcing a new interim rule that would base disability ratings on how well veterans function on medications rather than the underlying condition, after a strong backlash from major veterans groups; a public comment period remains open until April 20, with Secretary Doug Collins stating the rule will not be enforced going forward while feedback is collected, as VA seeks to expedite benefits processing and address concerns.
Rolling Stone reports that the VA issued an interim final rule to rate disabilities partly by medications used to treat conditions and by a veteran’s earning capacity, potentially cutting disability and pension payments. The change departs from decades of rating based on medical impairment and cites the 2025 Ingram v. Collins decision; veterans groups oppose it, arguing it reduces benefits, while VA officials say it formalizes longstanding practice. The rule is part of broader reforms such as Project 2025 and could impact a significant share of VA spending.
The VA issued a Federal Register rule allowing disability ratings to reflect improvements from medications or treatments, potentially lowering ratings during reevaluation even when the underlying disability remains. Veterans groups warn this could reduce benefits and deter care, especially for PTSD and toxic-exposure conditions, while VA officials say the rule formalizes a longstanding practice and won’t affect current ratings. The rule has drawn widespread backlash and thousands of public comments as questions about implementation and legal implications remain unresolved.