Ranking Members Takano and Blumenthal Demand Immediate Reinstatement of VA’s Office of Equity Assurance

WASHINGTON -- Ranking Member Mark Takano and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal recently sent a joint letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins and Secretary of State and Acting Archivist Marco Rubio earlier this month expressing their concerns regarding the closure of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Office of Equity Assurance (OEA).

“Unequal treatment of veterans of different backgrounds is not a new occurrence or problem,” wrote the Ranking Members. “For example, in 2023 the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed black veterans are ten percent less likely to have their mental health-related VA claims approved, compared to other veterans… The liquidation of this office will make it harder for veterans to access their earned benefits.”

The Committee Democratic leaders continued, “To have terminated this office and its functions under the guise of eliminating demonstrates a lack of sincerity and seriousness about improving VA’s provision of services to all veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors. You may attempt to cancel these veterans and their service but their bravery and sacrifice can never be erased.”

The Office of Equity Assurance (OEA)is responsible for coordinating enterprise-level efforts to eliminate disparities in the VA benefits claims process. OEA conducts fundamental oversight, informing Congress of VA benefits inequities. Without this office, Congress would have no idea if VBA is adequately serving veterans. According to a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), there are disparities when it comes to claims approval ratings for minority veterans. The Biden-Harris Administration followed GAO’s guidance on addressing the disparities to find the potential cause of this issue. And now the Trump-Musk-Vance Administration has decided to slash this effort, leaving veterans to suffer.

Prior to its closure, OEA performed critical tasks and research to ensure veterans were not denied the benefits they deserve, a mission that cannot be abandoned. The members called for the reinstatement of all functions of the office, including OEA’s important research work: “We request VA immediately and permanently reinstate the authority, functionality, responsibilities, research, and personnel of OEA. The continued cessation of activities focused on researching and addressing the disparities that evidence clearly shows exist will undoubtedly impact veterans’ access to their earned care and benefits.”

The Ranking Members also called for VA to rescind and reverse its Specific Reduction in Force Notice sent to OEA employees on March 13, 2025. Additionally, given concerns about the preservation of the office’s work, Ranking Members Takano and Blumenthal have formally requested that VA and the National Archives and Records Administration preserve all records related to disparities in the provision of benefits, services, and healthcare to veterans, as well as evidence about the dismantling of OEA.

“If Secretary Collins is truly serious about improving access to care for all veterans, he must acknowledge the real disparities that exist in our system. The removal of this office will increase the red tape that minority veterans are already facing in accessing their earned benefits. Black veterans are ten percent less likely to have their mental health-related VA claims approved compared to other veterans. We must remain committed to righting the wrongs of our past and addressing system failures. Secretary Collins' actions directly contradict his stated commitment to veterans and will only create additional barriers to benefits access. We can’t serve veterans by firing the very people responsible for ensuring all veterans can have equal access to benefits they’ve earned. These workers must be reinstated. The Trump Agenda has no place in VA,” said Ranking Member Mark Takano.

“The Trump Administration’s silent shuttering of the Office of Equity Assurance is yet another cruel cut for veterans. GAO’s non-partisan report confirmed black veterans are significantly less likely to have their mental health-related VA claims approved, compared to white veterans. The establishment of this office was a critical step to correct a longstanding injustice. Our minority veterans looking to access the care and benefits they earned deserve our support—not to be recklessly discarded by Secretary Collins’ political rampage to dismantle VA,” said Ranking Member Blumenthal.

Link to Letter.

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