Ranking Member Takano Denounces Washington Post Series Scapegoating Veterans Collecting Long Overdue Benefits
WASHINGTON—Today, The Washington Post printed House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano’s (D-CA) letter to the editor, a response to The Post’s October 9th front-page piece titled "How some veterans exploit $193 billion VA program, due to lax controls."
“The Post looked for villains in the wrong place and misled the public with one-off anecdotal explanations of why VA disability claims have grown. Doing so is a disservice to those who risked their lives in our nation’s wars,” said Ranking Member Takano following the release of his letter to the editor. “The outrage from the veterans’ community was swift and clear: DAV called the headline ‘shameful.’ VFW reminded readers that disability benefits ‘are not charity’ but rather ‘compensation owed for injuries and conditions incurred in the line of duty.’ A coalition of 28 military and veterans’ groups warned the series ignored context, belittled decades of sacrifice, and risked deepening public cynicism toward veterans who depend on these earned benefits. Veterans deserve reporting that spotlights real reform: modernizing VA’s systems, holding profiteers accountable, and honoring those who bore the battle.”
Please click here to read the full letter to the editor as published by The Washington Post.
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