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Friday

Internal Emails Show VA Hospitals Are Rationing Protective Gear
Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

Internal Emails Show VA Hospitals Are Rationing Protective Gear

Seven Veterans Affairs staffers have died from the virus, and unions for VA workers have been sounding the alarm about shortages of protective gear and insufficient staffing.

Internal Emails Show VA Hospitals Are Rationing Protective Gear

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Thursday

VA Secretary Wilkie: 'We Are The Surge Force'

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie told NPR the department was prepared to help back up the nation's health care system, if needed. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

The Coronavirus Crisis

VA Secretary Wilkie: 'We Are The Surge Force'

In an interview with NPR, Secretary for Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said the department was ready to deploy if called on to help with the coronavirus pandemic response.

VA Secretary Wilkie: 'We Are The Surge Force'

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Thursday

Trump's Whistleblower Protection Office Didn't Shield Sources, Inspector General Says

President Trump shows off the Veterans Choice Program Extension and Improvement Act after signing it in April 2017. A new report said on Thursday that the agency failed in its core mission of protecting whistleblowers. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption

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Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Trump Impeachment Inquiry

Trump's Whistleblower Protection Office Didn't Shield Sources, Inspector General Says

According to the report, the office failed to push out poorly performing senior officials, did not conduct accurate or unbiased investigations and may not have protected identities of whistleblowers.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Veterans Affairs Secretary Evicts Members Of Congress From Offices In VA Hospitals

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and other members of Congress are appealing a decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs to evict them from office spaces at VA hospitals. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

National

Veterans Affairs Secretary Evicts Members Of Congress From Offices In VA Hospitals

The lawmakers have been using the offices to meet with veterans. At least one believes the eviction is payback for his tough questioning of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in April.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Evicts Members Of Congress From Offices In VA Hospitals

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Thursday

Retired Staff Sgt. Matt Lammers holds the hand of his wife, Alicia, before the swimming competition at the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Clearwater, Fla. Alicia has been Matt's official caregiver for nearly eight years, but she was cut from the Department of Veterans Affairs' caregiver program last December.

Retired Staff Sgt. Matt Lammers holds the hand of his wife, Alicia, before the swimming competition at the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Clearwater, Fla. Alicia has been Matt's official caregiver for nearly eight years, but she was cut from the Department of Veterans Affairs' caregiver program last December. Eve Edelheit for NPR hide caption

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Eve Edelheit for NPR

National

Veterans Urge Changes Before Expansion Of VA Caregivers Program

Veterans are warning that the Department of Veterans Affairs has not resolved serious flaws in the way the program is administered.

Veterans Urge Changes Before Expansion Of VA Caregivers Program

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Wednesday

Marines Who Fired Rocket Launchers Now Worry About Their Brains
Sarah Gonzales for NPR

Shots - Health News

Marines Who Fired Rocket Launchers Now Worry About Their Brains

The military is trying to figure out whether troops can sustain brain injuries from firing certain powerful weapons. Two Marines who used to shoot these weapons think they already know.

Marines Who Fired Rocket Launchers Now Worry About Their Brains

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Monday

Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

Robert Wilkie testifies during a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee nominations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 27, 2018. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

National

Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

Robert Wilkie inherits a VA that is undertaking ambitious changes in the next year. The department has been in turmoil since Trump sacked his first VA secretary in March.

Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

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Wednesday

Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

Veterans Affairs secretary nominee Robert Wilkie (right) speaks with Marion Polk, national commander of AMVETS, before testifying at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee nominations hearing Wednesday. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

National

Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

President Trump fired his first VA secretary, and his first nominee withdrew. His next pick, Robert Wilkie, is a veteran and a seasoned Washington official.

Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

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Friday

Surprise! Trump Nominates Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie To Fill Role Permanently

Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, left, is seen as President Trump announces his intention to nominate Wilkie to be the next Veterans Affairs Secretary during a summit at the East Room of the White House on Friday. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Surprise! Trump Nominates Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie To Fill Role Permanently

Following the disastrous nomination of the president's last pick, Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, veterans groups say they hope the embattled agency can finally get back on track.

Wednesday

New Charges Against VA Nominee: 'Candyman' Dispensed Drugs Freely, Wrecked Car

Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, nominee for veterans affairs secretary, leaves the Dirksen Building afte meeting with Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on Tuesday. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images hide caption

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Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Politics

New Charges Against VA Nominee: 'Candyman' Dispensed Drugs Freely, Wrecked Car

Detailed new allegations surfaced Wednesday against Dr. Ronny Jackson, President Trump's pick to lead the VA. The White House is defending Jackson, who wants a chance to clear his name.

New Charges Against VA Nominee: 'Candyman' Dispensed Drugs Freely, Wrecked Car

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Tuesday

More than 20 military employees have shared concerns about Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, who was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with members and staff of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, said the panel's top Democrat, Jon Tester.

More than 20 military employees have shared concerns about Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, who was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with members and staff of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, said the panel's top Democrat, Jon Tester. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Two-Way

VA Nominee Accused Of Drinking On Duty, Improper Prescriptions, Sen. Tester Says

More than 20 military employees described a "toxic work environment" to senators and staff, the Democrat told NPR. President Trump says the decision to withdraw is up to Ronny Jackson.

VA Nominee Accused Of Drinking On Duty, Improper Prescriptions, Sen. Tester Says

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Thursday

Fired VA Secretary Says White House Muzzled Him

Ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin demurred from pointing a finger squarely at President Trump but described a VA riddled with political pressure and conflict. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Fired VA Secretary Says White House Muzzled Him

David Shulkin, the ousted Veterans Affairs chief, tells NPR that political forces in the Trump administration want to privatize the VA and that he was not allowed to respond to an ethics controversy.

Thursday

For Veterans Mustard-Gassed In Secret Tests, Help Now Sits On President's Desk

In this 1945 image, test subjects enter a gas chamber for a U.S. military experiment that will expose them to mustard gas. Courtesy of Edgewood Arsenal hide caption

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Courtesy of Edgewood Arsenal

The Two-Way

For Veterans Mustard-Gassed In Secret Tests, Help Now Sits On President's Desk

More than two years after NPR revealed the U.S. government broke promises to World War II veterans whom it exposed to mustard gas, Congress has passed a bill to help them finally get compensation.

Wednesday

Do U.S. Troops Risk Brain Injury When They Fire Heavy Weapons?

Coalition forces fire a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle during a training exercise in Afghanistan's Helmand province in 2013. Spc. Justin Young/U.S. Department of Defense/DVIDS hide caption

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Spc. Justin Young/U.S. Department of Defense/DVIDS

Shots - Health News

Do U.S. Troops Risk Brain Injury When They Fire Heavy Weapons?

Some modern shoulder-fired weapons produce blast waves powerful enough to rattle the brain. A $30 million study aims to help the military figure out how much blast exposure, over time, is too much.

Do U.S. Troops Risk Brain Injury When They Fire Heavy Weapons?

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