Budzinski, Duckworth Meet with Local Veterans and Metro East VSO Leaders to Discuss Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Veteran Community
BELLEVILLE, IL – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders and members from local Veteran Service Organizations in the Metro East, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. During their meeting, Duckworth and Budzinski discussed the Trump Administration’s VA layoffs, illegal pauses in federal funding and cuts to veteran care.
“I am honored to represent over 40,000 veterans in my district. Many of these brave men and women have served this nation not once, but twice—first in uniform, and now at the VA. Unfortunately, this administration has set an alarming record by firing more veterans than ever before, jeopardizing their livelihoods, and risking the essential services that so many veterans depend on,” said Budzinski. “Today, I joined Senator Duckworth to hear directly from Illinois veterans on recent risks to their well-being. I hope this fireside chat reassured them that in both the House and Senate, Illinois’ leaders are fighting for them.”
“By working to destroy the VA, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are putting the wants of billionaires before the needs of our heroes,” said Duckworth. “Trump and Musk are jeopardizing life-saving care and firing more Veterans than any other Administration in history in order to carve out tax cuts for billionaires. It’s a complete betrayal of our Veterans and their life of service. Together, Congresswoman Budzinski and I will keep pushing back and advocating for our heroes here in Illinois and across the nation.”
In January, Budzinski joined her colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Acting Secretary Todd Hunter, requesting answers on how the VA is implementing President Trump’s Executive Order to freeze hiring across the executive branch.
Earlier this month, Budzinski voted against a Continuing Resolution that would have cut $22.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 advanced funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund to care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The bill made additional cuts in essential veteran health programs, including those for homelessness, mental health, opioid support, oncology, and caregiver services.
Budzinski serves as Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. This subcommittee has oversight and investigative jurisdiction over the Department of Veterans Affairs’ major IT projects and technology modernization programs, such as the Electronic Health Record (EHR) modernization program and the Financial Management Business Transformation (FMBT). The Subcommittee also oversees cybersecurity, data privacy and management, and technology innovation at the VA.
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