Veterans

Summary of Impacts

Project 2025 recommends reducing environmental regulations on business which will lead to higher emissions and environmental harm. It suggests withdrawing from international environmental agreements which will lead to the breakdown of global efforts to fight climate change. It aims to cut funding for research into climate change and renewable energy, weakening future technological innovation.

Key Quotes

“Remove the U.S. from any association with U.N. and other efforts to push sustainable-development schemes connected to food production”
(Bakst 325)

“Revisit the designation of PFAS chemicals as ‘hazardous substances'”
(Gunasekara Page 463)

“Make the design, development, and deployment of new nuclear warheads a top priority.”
(McNamee 430)

Impacts on Veterans

Project 2025 might bring several changes to the services veterans receive. For example, it suggests more privatization of healthcare services. This means that while some veterans may find more choices and shorter wait times, others could face higher costs and uneven quality of care. Additionally, any cuts in funding for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) programs could reduce the quality and availability of healthcare services for veterans, leading to longer wait times and fewer specialized care options.

Mental health support is another area that could see changes. If the focus on mental health services is reduced, veterans dealing with PTSD, depression, and anxiety might not get the help they need, leading to higher rates of homelessness and substance abuse. Emphasizing community-based programs instead of federal support might result in uneven levels of care, depending on how well local communities can provide services. This could leave some veterans without the important mental health support they require.

Economic assistance programs may also be affected. Reductions in federal job training and employment programs could make it harder for veterans to transition to civilian life, leading to higher unemployment rates. While increased support for veteran entrepreneurship could provide opportunities for those starting their own businesses, without proper training and financial backing, many might struggle. In terms of housing, cuts in funding for veterans’ housing programs could make homelessness a bigger problem, especially for veterans dealing with mental health issues or economic hardships. Overall, the changes proposed in “Project 2025” could create gaps in services for veterans, affecting their quality of life.

Quotes from the Mandate

Page numbers refer to the Mandate for Leadership PDF

“Target significant cost savings from revising disability rating awards for future claimants while preserving them fully or partially for existing claimants.” (General Welfare, Dept. of Veterans, Page 682)

The VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of military service-connected conditions. These ratings determine monthly disability compensation and eligibility for other VA benefits. The author does not clarify which ratings will be revised or by how much. But considering they say “significant cost savings” and only committed to preserving existing claimants’ awards “partially,” the implication is that veterans’ benefits will be cut significantly.

“Where admissible in regulatory action, HUD should implement reforms reducing the implicit anti-marriage bias in housing assistance programs, strengthen work and work-readiness requirements, implement maximum term limits for residents in PBRA and TBRA programs, and end Housing First policies so that the department prioritizes mental health and substance abuse issues before jumping to permanent interventions in homelessness.” (Section III, Chapter 15, Page 541)

The PBRA [Project Based Rental Assistance] provides low-income families with decent, safe, and affordable housing. As of 2024, 1.2 million families would potentially lose housing if term limits were enacted. The TBRA [Tenant-Based Rental Assistance] helps individual households, rather than subsidizing particular rental projects and renters would be in danger of losing housing. Housing First is a program that helps get homeless individuals off the streets and into clean, affordable housing. Ending Housing First would mean that anyone who would qualify for the program would remain on the streets.

“Eliminate or move Office of Postsecondary Education programs” (General Welfare, Dept. of Education, Page 359)

The Office of Postsecondary Education administers over 60 programs. While Project 2025 doesn’t list all the programs to be eliminated, it clarifies that institutional funding should only go to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and tribally controlled colleges. This would mean cutting programs aimed at helping veterans, people with disabilities, research & development, rural learners, and Hispanic-serving institutions.

“Eliminate Impact Aid not tied to students” (General Welfare, Dept. of Education, Page 358)

Impact Aid is a Federal education program that reimburses school districts for the lost revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of nontaxable Federal property. Because most public school districts are funded largely through local taxes and fees, and because Federal land is exempt from taxation, as are many of the businesses and facilities located on that land, districts are containing Federal property are at a financial disadvantage in funding their schools.
Removal of Impact Aid not tied to students would eliminate Federal low-rent housing facilities, decrease funding for national parks and Army Corps of Engineers projects and Federal facilities such as national laboratories and VA hospitals.

“Embrace the expansion of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) as an avenue to maintain a VA footprint in challenging medical markets without investing further in obsolete and unaffordable VA health care campuses.” (General Welfare, Dept. of Veterans, Page 679)

CBOCs focus on providing outpatient services like primary care and mental health care. VA Medical Centers focus on inpatient services, complex specialty services, research, education, and emergency care.
The author does not state what would be considered an “obsolete” and/or “unaffordable” VA health care campus. The VA currently has plans to construct new or rebuild a number of VAMCs – under this policy proposal, those VAMCs would either get scrapped or replaced with CBOCs.
Additionally, the emphasis on moving care from VA facilities to CBOCs and private-sector providers could disrupt the continuity of care for veterans. Veterans accustomed to receiving integrated care within VA facilities might find it challenging to go between multiple providers and guarantee they are getting the care they need.

“Transfer all career Senior Executive Service employees out of PA/PAS-designated positions on the first day and ensure political control of the VA.” (General Welfare, Dept. of Veterans, Page 683)

Physician assistants at the VA can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications. Senior Executive Service (SES) employees are responsible for strategic decision-making, policy implementation, and leadership. Historically they have served as a link between political appointees and the rest of the federal workforce, ensuring effective government operations during administration transitions.
Replacing PA SES members with political appointees is not normally done. This policy will ensure the VA is fully focused on conservative policy, so veterans who are part of marginalized communities (especially LGBTQIA+) should expect more barriers to care. Additionally, since the career experts in VA operations will be fired, all veterans could encounter service interruptions associated with turnover and political backlash. These new political appointees may or may not have relevant experience.