S.Hrg.119-164

1[Senate Hearing 119-164]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                        S. Hrg. 119-16456                HEARING TO CONSIDER A PENDING NOMINATION7=======================================================================89                                HEARING1011                               BEFORE THE1213                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS14                          UNITED STATES SENATE1516                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS1718                             FIRST SESSION1920                               __________2122                           SEPTEMBER 10, 20252324                               __________2526       Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs2728[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]2930        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov3132                                __________3334                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE3561-628 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 20263637-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3839                 SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS4041                     Jerry Moran, Kansas, Chairman42John Boozman, Arkansas               Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut,43Bill Cassidy, Louisiana                  Ranking Member44Thom Tillis, North Carolina          Patty Murray, Washington45Dan Sullivan, Alaska                 Bernard Sanders, Vermont46Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee          Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii47Kevin Cramer, North Dakota           Margaret Wood Hassan, New48Tommy Tuberville, Alabama                Hampshire49Jim Banks, Indiana                   Angus S. King, Jr., Maine50Tim Sheehy, Montana                  Tammy Duckworth, Illinois51                                     Ruben Gallego, Arizona52                                     Elissa Slotkin, Michigan5354                     David Shearman, Staff Director55                Tony McClain, Democratic Staff Director56                            C O N T E N T S5758                              ----------5960                           September 10, 20256162                                SENATORS6364                                                                   Page65Hon. Jerry Moran, Chairman, U.S. Senator from Kansas.............     166Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member, U.S. Senator from67  Connecticut....................................................     468Hon. Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama.................     969Hon. Mazie K. Hirono, U.S. Senator from Hawaii...................    1070Hon. Angus S. King, Jr., U.S. Senator from Maine.................    1271Hon. Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska......................    1572Hon. Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator from North Carolina...............    177374                               INTRODUCER7576Hon. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee...............     27778                                NOMINEE7980Karen L. Brazell, DSL, Nominee To Be Under Secretary for81  Benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs..................     38283                                APPENDIX84                           Opening Statement8586Hon. Richard Blumenthal..........................................    278788                          Nomination Material8990Karen L. Brazell, Nominee9192  Prepared statement.............................................    319394  Response to Pre-Hearing Questions for the Record submitted by:9596    Hon. Jerry Moran.............................................    3497    Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................    449899  Response to Questions for the Record submitted by:100101    Hon. Jerry Moran.............................................    52102    Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................    54103    Hon. Mazie K. Hirono.........................................    55104    Hon. John Boozman............................................    57105106  Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees........................    58107108                       Submission for the Record109110Statement from Sarah Verardo.....................................    73111112                     HEARING TO CONSIDER A PENDING113                               NOMINATION114115                              ----------116117                     WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025118119                                       U.S. Senate,120                            Committee on Veterans' Affairs,121                                                    Washington, DC.122    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 4:05 p.m., in123Room SR-418, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Jerry Moran,124Chairman of the Committee, presiding.125126    Present: Senators Moran, Tillis, Sullivan, Blackburn,127Tuberville, Sheehy, Blumenthal, Hirono, Hassan, and King.128129             OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,130               CHAIRMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS131132    Chairman Moran. The silence seems too oppressive to me and133so we are going to start. Senator Blumenthal is on his way, and134when he joins us he can make his opening statement.135    The hearing will come to order. Good afternoon and thank136you all for your presence here. We are here to consider the137nomination for the VA Under Secretary for Benefits.138    I want to remind us that tomorrow our Nation will take time139to remember the Americans who died in the terrorist attacks of1409/11, 2001, and the heroes who sacrificed their own lives141trying to save others.142    Twenty-four years later, September 11th is still a vivid143and painful memory for many Americans, and especially for those144who answered the call to serve our Nation in uniform following145the attacks. To those who stood to defend our Nation in a146moment of darkness, we thank you and we thank your families for147the sacrifice that was made.148    Post-9/11 veterans now represent 28 percent of the veteran149population in America, and face the highest rate of service-150connected disabilities among the entire veteran population. The151timely delivery of benefits is crucial to supporting veterans152and their loved ones after their service.153    The Veterans Benefits Administration is charged with154administering disability and pension benefits, education155benefits, home loan benefits, military-to-civilian transition156support services, survivor benefits, and other resources to157veterans after they have taken off their uniform. The158responsibility of the VA Under Secretary for Benefits is to159make certain that veterans and their families receive quality160benefits in a timely manner, as have been provided by law.161    We have an experienced public servant, Dr. Karen Brazell,162before us today as our nominee for this important position. She163served in the Army and is a third-generation veteran. She164understands the importance of an institution like VBA and its165impact on lives of veterans and their families.166    Since January of this year, the VA has reduced the backlog167in disability benefit compensation claims by more than 37168percent. For fiscal year 2025, the VA is processing claims169nearly 18 percent faster than they were in fiscal year 2024. I170am pleased to see progress at the VBA, but as we always say,171there is still much more that we need to do to better serve172veterans, survivors, and VA beneficiaries.173    If confirmed, that will be your duty, Doctor, to take upon174that task. I look forward to hearing your plans and priorities175this afternoon, and I appreciate you being here. I appreciate176your willingness to serve. I appreciate your family members177that have joined you, and the willingness for you all to take178on a role, if confirmed.179    I will yield to the Ranking Member upon his arrival, but I180think we will proceed with your testimony.181    Ah, I recognize Senator Blackburn to do so.182183             INTRODUCTION BY HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN,184                  U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE185186    Senator Blackburn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and indeed, it187is an honor for me to introduce Dr. Karen Brazell, President188Trump's nominee to serve as Under Secretary for Benefits at the189Department of VA.190    Dr. Brazell is a third-generation veteran who served in the191U.S. Army before building a distinguished career in Federal192service, including senior leadership roles at the VA, the193Department of the Navy, the White House Military Office. She194currently serves as Senior Advisor to Secretary Collins,195leading efforts on acquisition reform, technology196modernization, and enterprise planning to improve services for197veterans. She also holds a doctorate in Strategic Leadership198from Liberty University, with additional degrees in199organizational management, computer science, and business200administration.201    The Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for202delivering over $250 billion in benefits and services to203veterans and their families. But VBA continues to face a204growing claims backlog, which has left too many veterans205waiting for the benefits that they have earned.206    With more than 20 years of experience in government and the207private sector, her extensive knowledge in Federal contracting,208IT and acquisition reform, make her well suited to tackle this209challenge and to modernize the systems that our veterans are210relying on.211    And Mr. Chairman, as we have talked so many times in this212Committee, the fact that the systems are antiquated, that they213are not up-to-date, that the processes that caseworkers follow214are antiquated, we know that someone who is competent and215capable is needed. Indeed she is, and I am pleased to support216her nomination, and know that she will serve with integrity,217with discipline, with a steadfast and unwavering dedication to218our veterans.219    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.220    Chairman Moran [Inaudible]. Raise your right hand, and let221me ask you this question.222    Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you are223about to give before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans224Affairs will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the225truth, so help you God?226    Ms. Brazell. I do.227    Chairman Moran. Thank you. You are now recognized for your228testimony. Thank you.229230    STATEMENT OF KAREN L. BRAZELL, DSL, NOMINEE TO BE UNDER231  SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS232233    Ms. Brazell. Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and234distinguished Members of this Committee, thank you for the235opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be236considered for the role of Under Secretary of Benefits at the237Department of Veterans Affairs. I want to thank President Trump238for this nomination and Secretary Collins for his faith and239confidence in me to lead one of the most consequential missions240within the department. I am equally grateful to the Members of241this Committee for your unwavering commitment to veterans and242for considering my nomination.243    This would be my second tour of duty, both at VA and with244President Trump's administration, and I do not take lightly245what that means. Leadership requires sacrifice, giving more246than those you lead. In today's environment, volunteering for247political service brings intense scrutiny, personal attacks,248and disclosure of one's private matters. I have accepted those249responsibilities because I believe there is no higher mission250than serving our Nation's veterans.251    My family's story makes this mission profoundly personal. I252am a third-generation veteran. Both of my grandfathers served253in wartime, one in World War I and the other in World War II.254My father, a Vietnam veteran, served a 12-month deployment, and255my husband of 40 years, First Sergeant (Retired) Kent Brazell,256served in Operation Enduring Freedom. I continued that legacy257as an enlisted woman in the United States Army. I know the258rigorous preparations for deployment--the readiness checks, the259long hours, and the responsibility of ensuring that you and260your fellow soldiers are ready for whatever lies ahead.261    Later, as a military spouse, I experienced deployment262preparation from the other side, holding together a household,263steadying children, and standing watch over the family so that264Kent could focus on his mission abroad. Those dual265perspectives, both in uniform and as a spouse, provided me with266a profound understanding of servant leadership.267    Kent is here with me today, along with our two daughters,268Jamie and Jacquelin. And my 88-year-old mother, a proud U.S.269Air Force veteran, and my father-in-law, an almost 89-year-old270retired U.S. Air Force veteran, are watching this hearing,271along with family and friends. Their presence reminds me that272military service is just not my story; it is our family's273story, a legacy of service and sacrifice across generations.274    I used my VA education benefits to advance my career,275gaining firsthand insight into how these programs empower276veterans to transition successfully, a lived experience that277will always guide my leadership. Over my 40-year career in both278public and private sectors, I have worked to enhance veterans'279access to the benefits they have earned. I proudly served 4280years on active duty, then spent the next 16 years supporting281Kent's Army career as a military spouse, experiencing the282sacrifice, resilience, and strength required not only by those283who served, but also of their families. That perspective gives284me a unique understanding of the human impact behind every VA285policy.286    In public sector, I have led the intersection of policy,287technology, and veteran advocacy. As VA's Chief Acquisition288Officer and Acting Assistant Secretary for Enterprise289Integration, I managed a $30 billion portfolio and a workforce290of over 12,000 professionals. I expedited the Community Care291Network contracts to expand private sector care and modernized292benefits systems to streamline intake, scheduling, and293monitoring, always with accountability, transparency, and294trusted outcomes for veterans.295    In private sector, I built on that experience by296modernizing health IT and benefits delivery with technology297companies. I deployed automation to accelerate claims intake,298implemented real-time dashboards for oversight, and reduced299backlogs that had kept veterans waiting too long for decisions.300These innovations minimized errors and delivered more reliable301outcomes for veterans and their families.302    In every role, my focus has been to deliver by listening to303veterans, elevating underserved voices, and empowering teams304that never lost sight of the mission: putting veterans at the305center of every decision, and ensuring the veterans--the306benefits, they are delivered with dignity, efficiency, and307urgency.308    Thank you again to President Trump and Secretary Collins309for entrusting me with this responsibility, and to the Members310of this Committee for your trust and consideration. I look311forward to your questions.312313    [The prepared statement of Ms. Brazell appears on page 31314of the Appendix.]315316    Chairman Moran. Thank you very much. Before we go to those317questions, I am going to recognize Senator Blumenthal for his318opening statement.319320             STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL,321         RANKING MEMBER, U.S. SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT322323    Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. Thank you for being here,324Dr. Brazell, and thank you for your service to our Nation, in325uniform and as a military spouse, and to your husband, as well,326whom we discussed when you came to visit me. Thank you for that327visit.328    You know, the VBA's core mission to provide world-class329service and benefits to our Nation is something they deserve330and need, and it cannot be accomplished without sufficient331resources, both in money and in staff. The Trump administration332inherited a VBA that was providing more benefits to more333veterans than ever before, partly as a result of the PACT Act,334which Senator Moran and I and others on this Committee335championed. For the past 8 months, we have seen, in effect, the336workforce drastically cut, through hiring freezes and337demoralizing initiatives like forced overtime, an end to338collective bargaining for the vast majority of the Veterans339Administration workforce, higher level reviews, veterans asking340the VA to take a second look at their claim because the claims341processor missed something or made an incorrect decision. Those342reviews have increased by 21 percent.343    I am going to put my full statement in the record, but let344me just say that the mass exodus at VBA, about 50 percent of345the VA's regional office directors, have opted to leave Federal346service rather than implement the collective bargaining-busting347practices and policies, are, in effect, undermining the ability348of the VA to perform these essential functions. And it is not349just the regional directors. More than 1,000 claims processors350have opted to leave instead of dealing with unreasonable351commutes to unsuitable workstations or forced overtime.352    You have been a part of this administration. You have been353a part of the policies and practices that have undermined the354VA's ability to deliver health care and benefits. And many of355these canceled contracts were directly under your purview. I356know you have said you were not directly involved, but I am357going to want to know exactly how you were involved in what has358been done already by the VA.359    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.360361    [The full opening statement of Senator Blumenthal appears362on page 27 of the Appendix.]363364    Chairman Moran. Senator Blumenthal, thank you.365    Dr. Brazell, from your experience at the VA, do you have366any concerns about the VBA's workplace culture, what you see as367the biggest hurdles that VBA faces in successfully serving368veterans and their dependents? What needs to change, if369anything?370    Ms. Brazell. Chairman Moran, thank you for that question.371Just to be clear, I have not been involved in any of the VBA372operations. That is not my area of oversight right now. But I373do believe that we have got some challenges with culture. Any374time a new leader comes in, we do not make changes right away.375We assess what is working well and what is not working well.376And I think it is important that we look at prioritizing claims377modernization. And I say that from the aspect of having one378foundational data object.379    I have heard from veterans, even when I served before,380``How come I have to give you guys my information over and381over?'' I think it is important that we have the veterans382submit that, their discharge document, one time, and it is used383across multiple systems.384    I also think there is an opportunity to digitize forms. We385have a VA form that is for the Notice of Beneficiary and386Claimants. It is a 15-page form. The first 6 pages are387instructions of how to fill out the next 9 pages. I think we388could do better than what we have today for our veterans.389    And we also need to leverage emergent technologies. I want390to look at workforce strengthening. Once confirmed, I will391assess and review any challenges and look for opportunities for392improvement.393    And then finally, veteran-centered reform, digital394modernization of claims processing. I think it is important395that we look at where we can leverage emergent technologies to396reduce. We have a claims backlog right now of about 650,000,397within compensation. And yes, we have done a great effort under398this administration, reducing that by about 37 percent. But I399do believe there are opportunities where we can actually400modernize that process to be more transparent to the veteran.401    But most importantly, any emergent technology we bring to402the VA, we must have a human at the beginning and end of that403process.404    Chairman Moran. What do you see as your impediments to405accomplish what you just described as your goals?406    Ms. Brazell. Chairman Moran, over the last almost 9 months,407I think a lot of it is the culture. We have relied a lot in the408VA on our contractors, but we need our contractors, because VA409does not have all the experts. It needs to be a balanced410approach. But we have got to have leaders who are willing to411take risks. And I say those are calculated risks. Some people412may misconstrue what I mean by risk, but leaderships ensure413that their folks are uncomfortably comfortable, meaning as414leaders we have to push our people to help them grow, to get415them outside of the way they normally think.416    I am going to bring an industry perspective, spending the417last 4 years in industry, and really bringing more of those418agile methodologies, encouraging them to take risks. But419celebrating what we have learned from when we take risks.420    Chairman Moran. Thank you for your answer. One would think,421in hearing you describe the form, that someone else previous to422you would have decided this form makes no sense, it is unfair,423and inappropriate for our veterans. Those things that linger424trouble me, and of course, individuals' leadership matters.425    I also would tell you that it seems to me that the VA may426be siloed from the rest of the department, and even within the427organization, within VBA may not necessarily talk to each428other. This lack of communication, I think, can cause veterans429to fall between the cracks, and I would be interested--I will430not ask this as a question because my time is about to expire,431and I have one specific I want to ask you, but I would ask you432to look into this issue of how do you make the VBA part of an433overall organization focused on veterans.434    And I have a pet peeve. Mostly what I know about435circumstances that veterans are in are what they tell me, what436their emails tell me, what they tell my staff, and particularly437the cases, the issues they bring to us to try to solve on their438behalf. And I would love, not because I don't want to do the439work--in fact, it is part of the most rewarding thing that most440of us do--but it would be a great day in which it did not441require a United States Senator to get the VA to do what needs442to be done to care for an individual veteran.443    One of my veterans in my hometown has raised this with me,444and I have raised this with the previous leadership at the VA,445and it may seem like a minor thing. But the VA sends out, to446veterans in Kansas and across the country, they receive notices447to say that their claim is, quote, ``ready for decision.'' And448a month goes by, and a month goes by, and a month goes by. It449is a misleading statement. It is not ready for decision, or if450it is, it is still not decided. And I would ask you to take451some time and address this, if you are confirmed, and serve in452that capacity. Veterans ought to know what to expect, and in453this case we are misleading them about the circumstance they454are in. And I would welcome any response to that.455    Ms. Brazell. Senator, you bring up a good--excuse me,456Chairman, you bring up a good point. I think it is important to457be transparent, but we have to be also factual in our responses458to the veterans. There is room for improvement in transparency,459more outreach, more education, and there is also more460opportunity for us to collaborate collectively with you and461your staff to ensure that whatever information that we are462disseminating to the veterans, that they understand and that we463are not--I am looking for the right words.464    Being on the other side, if I had a document that says,465hey, your claim is ready for basically a decision, I am466thinking I am going to get notification in the next few days.467We need to be clear what that means. And that goes back to if468we had a better--I would not better, but an improved claims469processing, where the veteran actually saw where their claim470was throughout that entire process.471    Chairman Moran. Thank you. Senator Blumenthal.472    Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. When you visited me you said473that you had not been involved in contract cancellations. Have474you reviewed any specific contract that has been canceled?475    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, thank you again for476taking the time to meet with me Monday afternoon. And as I have477relayed to your staff, who I met with last week, and you on478Monday, my role as Senior Advisor was to assess the Executive479orders and ensure that they were followed without any480disruption to veterans delivery.481    Senator Blumenthal. So you have not reviewed any specific482contract. Is that what you are testifying? Just a yes or no,483because my time is limited. Have you reviewed any specific484contracts that have been canceled--31,000 contracts canceled.485Have you reviewed any of them?486    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, I believe it is only 2,500487contracts that have been terminated to date.488    Senator Blumenthal [continuing]. Whatever the number, have489you reviewed any?490    Ms. Brazell. I have reviewed some of those, yes.491    Senator Blumenthal. And have you reviewed the contract that492was canceled to train VA staff implementing suicide prevention493PACT Act and MISSION Act-mandated services?494    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, I do not recall that exact495contract, and I will be happy to take that back to look at that496for you.497    Senator Blumenthal. Have you reviewed the one that498maintains and operates VA Cancer Registry databases in various499states--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska--that was500canceled?501    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, I do not recall, and I will be502happy to look into that one, following this hearing today.503    Senator Blumenthal. Have you reviewed any of the contracts504of your former employer, Science Application International505Corporation?506    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, I have met the507requirements of the law.508    Senator Blumenthal. You have reviewed it, or not?509    Ms. Brazell. I have met all the requirements of the law as510it relates to my former employer.511    Senator Blumenthal. So does that mean--it is a yes or no.512Yes or no.513    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, it is not a yes or no. I have514met all the requirements of the law.515    Senator Blumenthal. Well, just for the record, your former516employer received $70 million from the VA. No contracts517canceled. So you can refuse to answer the question, which is518what you are doing, but that is a fact.519    Let me ask you, Dr. Brazell, do you support means-testing520VA disability compensation benefits?521    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, if confirmed, I522will do a full assessment and look into that program.523    Senator Blumenthal. Do you support it?524    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal----525    Senator Blumenthal. It is a recommendation made by the OMB526Director, Russell Vought. He has proposed clawing back benefits527from veterans to save money.528    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal----529    Senator Blumenthal. Will you tell the veterans of America530that you will oppose this kind of extreme, cruel measure?531    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, we will ensure that532every veteran is provided the benefits they have earned, timely533and accurately.534    Senator Blumenthal. Do you support eliminating compensation535payments to veterans rated 20 percent service-connected536disability, disabled, or lower? Again, another proposal from537OMB Director Vought.538    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, we will ensure that539all veterans are provided the benefits that they have earned.540    Senator Blumenthal. If you are confirmed are you going to541change the way that disability benefits are calculated and542ratings are determined?543    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, if confirmed, I544will follow the law.545    Senator Blumenthal. Well, I am not asking you whether you546will follow the law. I am really disturbed by these answers to547my questions. I cannot force you to be responsive, but I do not548view that answer as responsive to my question.549    Let me ask you, do you support the elimination of550collective bargaining at the VA?551    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, that is under552litigation, so I have no comment.553    Senator Blumenthal. Well, you have been working for the554Secretary. He has taken this action. And you are saying you555cannot comment on it?556    Ms. Brazell. That is correct.557    Senator Blumenthal. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.558    Chairman Moran. Senator Tuberville.559560                    HON. TOMMY TUBERVILLE,561                   U.S. SENATOR FROM ALABAMA562563    Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Brazell,564thank you for being here today, and your service, and your565family's service. A lot of sacrifice from your father on down,566so thank you.567    If confirmed as Under Secretary of Benefits you will568oversee the VA's fiduciary program. Unfortunately, this program569has been riddled with fraud and abuse. I sometimes even wonder570if the VA understands its purpose.571    In your own words, can you describe the purpose of the VA's572fiduciary program and your priorities?573    Ms. Brazell. Senator, thank you for that question. My three574principles, we will always put veterans first, we will follow575the law, but we will ensure fiscal stewardship through576accountability. And if confirmed, I will do a review of the577current program and the state of our financials today. But most578importantly, we will ensure that we have processes and579procedures in place to mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse.580    Senator Tuberville. I think we are all still concerned581about the legacy of the PACT Act and the lasting regulatory582nightmare it created for the disability claims process. So if583confirmed, how will you ensure deserving veterans receive their584benefits swiftly while reducing regulations and receive the585proper payments?586    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I think it is important that587collectively we ensure that the veterans receive timely and588accurate benefits, and if confirmed, I will do a full589assessment of that program to ensure that veterans are afforded590those benefits they have earned.591    Senator Tuberville. Under Secretary Collins' leadership we592have seen record reductions in the backlog claims. In one593month, the VA processed I think 300,000 ratings claims. Is that594right? Have you heard anything about that?595    Ms. Brazell. We have went from about 650,000 in596compensation down to an inventory of about--excuse me, the597inventory is about 650,000, and we are down to about 145,000598that they have processed recently.599    Senator Tuberville. How can we ensure that that continues?600I mean, do we need any people, any more eyes on the books? How601does that work?602    Ms. Brazell. We had, through VERA, VSIP, and DRP, the603voluntary departure of some of the folks. I believe we have604lost about 1,400 in VBA, of which about 1,000 of those claims605adjudicators. But what we have got to do is--it is my606understanding is that they have currently looked internally for607other folks who are looking to do, upskilling the workforce to608put additional individuals on to reduce--continually to reduce609that backlog.610    Senator Tuberville. In your testimony you stated, if611confirmed, you would work to strengthen interagency612relationships between the DoD, DOL, Department of Ed, and SBA613to improve coordination and data-sharing. Can you elaborate on614how this would look in practice? How are you going to615communicate with all these groups?616    Ms. Brazell. Senator, it is important that we have the617collaboration between all other departments and agencies and618leverage their best practices. Within DoD, the Memorandum of619Agreement, you know, that was signed by the DoD Secretary and620Secretary Collins allows for more data-sharing. It also allows621for us to really look at a more streamlined transition when it622comes to our servicemembers departing the military, especially623for their medical discharge exams.624    Senator Tuberville. The one thing that I hear most back in625my State of Alabama from our VA and our veterans is626communications, and I think if we can communicate better, we627can solve a lot of these problems. Obviously, not all of them.628But communication to my veterans, 400,000 back in Alabama, they629are much needed of more talk, more organization, and more630explanation of what is in front of them.631    So thank you, and I look forward to voting for you. Thank632you.633    Ms. Brazell. Thank you.634    Chairman Moran. Thank you, Senator Tuberville. Senator635Hirono.636637                     HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO,638                    U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII639640    Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I ask the641following two initial questions of all nominees before any of642my committees to refer to their fitness to serve for the643position to which you have been nominated. So I will ask you.644    Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted645requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical646harassment or assault of a sexual nature?647    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I have not.648    Senator Hirono. Have you ever faced discipline or entered649into settlement relating to this kind of conduct?650    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I have not.651    Senator Hirono. You noted that one of your responsibilities652was to oversee the implementation of President Trump's653Executive orders. Can you tell me what these Executive orders654were that you were overseeing the implementation of?655    Ms. Brazell. Senator, every Executive order that was656applicable to the VA are the ones that we were responsible for657implementing.658    Senator Hirono. I am asking for you to name them. Which659Executive orders are we talking about?660    Ms. Brazell. Reducing the fraud, waste, and abuse in661Federal contracting. We have implemented----662    Senator Hirono. How about the Executive order releasing663thousands of people from the VA workforce? Wasn't that an664Executive order?665    Ms. Brazell. Senator, we did not have a RIF, nor have we666released anyone from the workforce. Individuals voluntarily667left the VA through VERA, VSIP, and DRP.668    Senator Hirono. So really, Mr. Chairman, I would really669like to know specifically what Executive orders the President670issued relating to VA, and I would like to request the nominee671to provide that information, very specifically.672    So how many Executive orders--I mean, to say, oh yes, well,673everybody should reduce waste and fraud, that is pretty broad.674So I would like to know, was that the only Executive order you675were asked to implement?676    Ms. Brazell. No, Senator. I believe at the VA there were677over, at least a dozen Executive orders.678    Senator Hirono. Good. Can you provide us with that list,679please, very specific?680    I commend you for your commitment to making sure that our681veterans receive the benefits that they deserve and have682earned, and I think your testimony was that there was a683dramatic reduction in the claims backlog at the VA? Did that684result in an increase in the number of requests for review of685the claims decisions?686    Ms. Brazell. Senator, are you specifically--I am not quite687sure your question.688    Senator Hirono. So the claims backlog was dramatically689reduced, so you made decisions based on--and I do not know what690the numbers were, something like from 600,000 to 100,000, or691you reduced the backlog by 100,000, or you reduced it to692100,000. Can you clarify for me?693    Ms. Brazell. Well, the current inventory is about 650,000.694    Senator Hirono. Claims or backlog?695    Ms. Brazell. Claims for compensation.696    Senator Hirono. Down to--what was it before it got to697600,000?698    Ms. Brazell. It was over a million.699    Senator Hirono. So since you made the claims decisions and700you reduced the backlog, when a claims decision is made, can't701the veteran ask for a review of your decision?702    Ms. Brazell. I believe they can.703    Senator Hirono. So when you reduce the claims by 400,000 or704so, did the requests for review increase significantly?705    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I do not have that information, but I706will provide that to you.707    Senator Hirono. Could you provide that? Thank you very708much.709    Ms. Brazell. Absolutely.710    Senator Hirono. My concern is that even if, on the one711hand, you are reducing the claims backlog, on the other you are712doing it so fast that the veterans are saying, ``Wait a minute713here. I don't think that was right.'' So I would like to know714what those numbers are.715    Then, you know, your goal is to make sure that our veterans716get all the benefits they deserve. How many veterans are there717in the United States?718    Ms. Brazell. By the DoD count that we have, it is over 17719million.720    Senator Hirono. Seventeen million? Do you know what721percentage of those veterans have access to veterans benefits?722    Ms. Brazell. I believe right now the count of what we have723enrolled in the VA is around 8 million.724    Senator Hirono. How many?725    Ms. Brazell. Eight million, or over 8 million.726    Senator Hirono. So that means that there are thousands of727veterans that have not accessed veteran services. So what is728your plan to enable them to access services, to find out what729you can do to help them?730    Ms. Brazell. Senator, it starts with outreach. We have got731to improve our outreach.732    Senator Hirono. Outreach how?733    Ms. Brazell. We have got to be out there and talking to734veterans. We have got to be out there introducing the VA,735because there is going to be a handoff when they leave the DoD.736They are going to be part of the VA family. We have to start737early; discussing that transition, educating them on the738benefits----739    Senator Hirono. Excuse me. I have been told, for the whole740time that I have been on this Committee, that there are741millions, literally, of veterans who do not get that kind of742outreach, and we are always told by all of you that there is743going to be outreach. How do you intend to do outreach when the744numbers of people who are working for VA is going down?745Secretary Collins was asked if there is a plan to reduce746another 80,000 or so--we still do not have that plan--but how747do you expect to increase your outreach if, at the same time,748you do not have the people to do it?749    Ms. Brazell. We have a great Veterans Experience Office,750and we are going to leverage that Veterans Experience Office751when they are out there at VSO events, with our community752partners, with our internal and external stakeholders.753    Senator Hirono. Okay. One more question then. What is your754goal for reaching out to the, what is it, 9 million veterans755who are not accessing? Do you have a goal, like within one year756you will want to reduce the number of people who are not having757access to what? Do you have those goals?758    Ms. Brazell. I do not have those specific goals today, but759I think within the next year to 15 months is a probability that760we could address extended outreach.761    Senator Hirono. Okay. Mr. Chairman, I would like to really762know how successful the outreach efforts are. I mean, I commend763you for doing that. We just need to have them succeed. Thank764you, Mr. Chairman.765    Chairman Moran. Dr. Brazell, you will make every effort to766answer the Senator's questions as you get the information.767    Ms. Brazell. Absolutely.768    Chairman Moran. Thank you. Senator King.769770                    HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR.,771                    U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE772773    Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Doctor, I was a774little puzzled by your non-answers to Senator Blumenthal on did775you have any involvement whatsoever in the review of the776contract of your former employer. And don't tell me you777followed the law. I am asking you a straight-up question. Did778you have anything to do whatsoever in the review of the779contract of your former employer?780    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, I did not review the contracts781of my former employer.782    Senator King. Did you have any involvement whatsoever in783that process?784    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, I am not a contracting officer785nor a contracting authority. I do not have that authority. Only786a warranted contracting officer has the authority to award,787modify, negotiate, or terminate a contract.788    Senator King. I understand that. I am asking you a pretty789straightforward question. Did you have anything to do790whatsoever with the review of the contract of your former791employer? That is a pretty straightforward yes-or-no question.792I did or I did not.793    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I have not reviewed the contracts of794my former employer.795    Senator King. That is not what I asked. I asked did you796have anything to do whatsoever with that review.797    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I have not reviewed any contracts of798my former employer.799    Senator King. Okay, that is the third----800    Ms. Brazell. Again, I am not a contracting authority.801    Senator King [continuing]. The third time you have given me802that answer, and for the third time I am going to say that is803not what I am asking. I am asking were you involved in any way804whatsoever with the review of the contract of your former805employer?806    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, I have answered that. I am not a807contracting official or contracting authority. I have not808reviewed the contracts of my former employer.809    Senator King. By failure to answer that question you just810lost my vote on this nomination.811    In your opening statement you used the term ``risks'' three812or four times, or five times, with regard to people under your813supervision. I do not want the people under your supervision814that are making decisions about benefits for veterans taking815risks. What in the world did you mean by taking risks?816    Ms. Brazell. Senator, when you employ new technology, and I817think you know that from your time at L.L. Bean, per our818discussion when I visited you, there are opportunities for819folks when we--you have got to learn your mistakes. You have820got to fail fast. You do that in a test environment,821understanding the constraints of the technology and how it is822going to interface with the legacy systems when you go to a823live environment. So test it in a production environment, fail824fast, learn faster.825    Senator King. I just do not like the idea of a test826environment and risks being taken with people's lives and827disability compensation. If you are talking about working a828model, that is one thing. But if you are talking about real829people and real decisions, the idea of risks and experimenting830is not acceptable.831    What role did you have in the whole contract cancellation832process?833    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, I recommended a structure for834proper review, by career senior leaders, who independently835evaluated contracts to decide which ones to terminate, descope,836or not renew.837    Senator King. I thought the bulk of that process was done838by a fellow at DOGE. Were you in charge of that? Did you bring839him in? Did you consult with Mr.--I cannot remember his name--840Levine, or something along those lines?841    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, we have no DOGE employees. They842are VA employees.843    Senator King. I know. But the people who did the initial844review of the contracts were DOGE. Is that not correct?845    Ms. Brazell. They were VA employees, Senator.846    Senator King. They were VA employees. Are you familiar with847Sahil Lavingia, a programmer enlisted by DOGE, which was then848run by Elon Musk, who worked at the VA and developed the849software that evaluated the contracts? You are denying that he850ever was involved in this process?851    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I did not say I was denied--he was852not involved in the process, nor did I deny I know him. But853what I am clarifying for the record, there were VA employees--854--855    Senator King. He was a VA employee when----856    Ms. Brazell. He was a VA employee. He was a VA employee.857    Senator King. Do you feel that the contract review process858was successful and effective?859    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, the contract review process has860never been done before, but it did allow a lot of the senior861leaders responsible, the career leaders responsible for their862programs, to be made aware of a lot of--several of the863duplicate contracts that they had under their oversight.864    Senator King. Several thousands were canceled. Wasn't it86516,000? There has been some dispute. The Ranking Member said86630-something. The number I have been using is 16,000. Isn't867that the correct number, canceled?868    Ms. Brazell. No, Senator. The correct number as of today is869about 2,500, out of about 76,000.870    Senator King. Well, that's certainly a number we can check.871And in your answer to the questions of the Committee you said,872``The FY '26 budget''--this is a direct quote--``reflects no873reduction-in-force.'' And yet I have the budget filing that874says disability compensation minus 862 people. What am I875missing? That sounds like a reduction-in-force to me. The876budget of the administration for 2026 is 862 fewer people than877were there the year before. Isn't that a reduction-in-force?878    Ms. Brazell. No, Senator, and I am not sure of the document879that you are referencing. But----880    Senator King. It is a VA document. It's General Operating881Expenses FTE by Business Line and Management Direction and882Support. Subtotal, disability compensation, minus 862 people.883    Ms. Brazell. Senator King, I was not involved in any of the884budget development, and I have not been involved in any of the885VBA operations.886    Senator King. Then, why did you say the FY '26 reflects no887reduction-in-force?888    Ms. Brazell. Because we have not had a reduction-in-force,889Senator. We had voluntary separations through VERA, VSIP, and890DRP.891    Senator King. If somebody leaves, isn't that a reduction-892in-force?893    Ms. Brazell. Not in----894    Senator King. You have fewer people to process claims,895right? 862 fewer, according to the budget submitted by the896administration.897    Ms. Brazell. And those are voluntary separations.898    Senator King. I understand that. But that is still 862899fewer people there to process claims.900    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I cannot say if 862 people is going901to impact the claims processing, and if confirmed, I will do a902full workforce assessment.903    Senator King. Well, thank you. I have to say that the904contract cancellation process is one of the most disastrous I905have ever seen in 25 years in this business, and to say that a906person who was engaged in that will then become in charge of907the veterans' benefit program, that is a lift for me. Thank908you, Mr. Chairman.909    Chairman Moran. Senator Sullivan.910911                       HON. DAN SULLIVAN,912                    U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA913914    Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Ms. Brazell,915I want to thank you and your family for wanting to serve. By916the way, I want you to maybe talk a little bit about your917family and service. Your dad was a Vietnam vet. Your husband918served 40 years, I think--no, husband of 40 years. Sorry.919    Ms. Brazell. Yes.920    Senator Sullivan. You served in the military. Can you give921me a little sense of your military service and your family's922military service, and why you want this position?923    Ms. Brazell. Senator Sullivan, first I want to thank you924for your leadership on Camp Lejeune.925    Senator Sullivan. Oh, I am going to get to that. Trust me.926All my colleagues are leaving, too, because I want them to hear927it.928    Ms. Brazell. I think----929    Senator Sullivan. Your service and your family's. I think930it is a big part of wanting to go join the VA.931    Ms. Brazell. It is. Again, service is in my heart. It is in932my--I do not want to say DNA, but, you know, I grew up as an933Air Force family member. We have been stationed everywhere. I934was born abroad. And one thing that I remember about my dad is935he was enlisted, and he took his GI Bill and went back and got936his degree, when he was in his 40s. And I remember when he937walked across that stage with his bachelor's degree, me,938personally, I said, it does not matter what your age is.939Education is a continuous journey.940    It is just like me. I just finished my doctorate. All four941of my degrees I have earned at night school while working full-942time.943    Senator Sullivan. Good. And didn't you use the GI Bill for944some of your----945    Ms. Brazell. I did. I did for my first two degrees, my946associate's and my bachelor's.947    Senator Sullivan. Good. Well, thank you for your service948and your family's service. It is not always easy. And when I949say it is a family matter when you are serving your country,950either in uniform or in an important position like this. So951thank you.952    So let's turn to the Camp Lejeune bill. This is, you know,953a real outrage from my perspective. I voted to provide the954long-awaited relief for veterans and families who were affected955by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. And yet, the Biden956administration Department of Justice, now the Trump957administration Department of Justice, all predicted if you do958not put attorneys' fees, caps on the awards, that the trial959lawyers would get all the money, and the sick Marines and their960families would not get anything.961    And I know we have some VFW and American Legion post962members here, but this is an issue I have been fighting for,963because my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, to be964honest, were more interested in giving their allies at law965firms money, not sick Marines and their families. And I have966been sick about it. It is the biggest issue, the biggest967injustice I have seen in my 10 years in the Senate. Everybody968knows about it. Everybody kind of looks the other way. I was969not looking the other way.970    The Attorney General of the Biden administration agreed971with me, saying this is an outrage. You cannot have law firms--972and you see them advertising all over the place--70 percent973contingency fees, 65 percent contingency fees. Stealing the974money from sick Marines and their families. It is disgusting.975    So can you give me your commitment to work with the976Secretary, who is very committed to this, and the Attorney977General--and I have had a lot of discussions with her--on at978least where we are on the current contingency fees. Anything979above that would be against the law. Anything above 25 percent.980I am still trying to pass my bill to make those not so high.981These are not trials. These are kind of, you know, already982determined administrative procedures that, under the law, are983very simple. I do not even think a lot of Marines and their984families need attorneys. They can work through the Department985of the Navy and you guys.986    But can you give me your sense on that? It is an issue I987care deeply about, and I have just been so disappointed how the988other side of the aisle has thrown the Marines under the bus,989to help law firms. It is really disgusting.990    Ms. Brazell. Senator, no veteran should have to pay a third991party to receive the benefits they have earned.992    Senator Sullivan. Especially if that third party is993charging them 70 percent contingency fees. Correct? Seventy994percent of the money goes to these law firms.995    Ms. Brazell. Agreed. And Senator, Camp Lejeune is very996personal to me. My oldest brother was a Marine--I should say997former Marine--and he was medically discharged because of his998toxic exposure to the water from his independent trucking job,999about a decade ago. So it is near and dear to my heart, as well1000as all the other Marines, family members that served or lived1001on Camp Lejeune.1002    Senator Sullivan. Is he still alive, your brother?1003    Ms. Brazell. Yes, Senator, he is.1004    Senator Sullivan. Good. Well, I hope----1005    Ms. Brazell. And he is watching today.1006    Senator Sullivan. Good. Well, tell him semper fi. Tell him1007I have his back. Tell him not to sign up for any of these darn,1008you know, law firms that are advertising. By the way, billions1009of dollars. Do you think they are advertising billions of1010dollars because they want to help guys like your brother? No.1011They are doing it because they want to line their own pockets.1012    So can I get your commitment to work with me, at least the1013present way in which to make sure? The Attorney General of the1014United States, under President Biden, said that if you are a1015law firm and you are charging more than 25 percent, they will1016go after you, civil and criminal liabilities. We should be1017doing that.1018    Can I get your commitment, Ms. Brazell, on that issue, to1019work with me, work with this Committee, and work with the1020Department of Justice to make sure that injustice does not1021happen in the Marines? They have already suffered through the1022contaminated water, and we want guys like your brother to be1023whole. Can I get your commitment to work with me on that?1024    Ms. Brazell. Yes.1025    Senator Sullivan. Good. And we will work with you, and make1026sure people like your brother who served in the Marine Corps1027honorably--by the way, there are no former Marines; there are1028just Marines--that we will work with you together on that. But1029I appreciate your commitment to that cause, and I appreciate1030you and your family's service.1031    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1032    Chairman Moran. Thank you, Senator Sullivan. Senator1033Tillis.10341035                       HON. THOM TILLIS,1036                U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA10371038    Senator Tillis. Welcome, Dr. Brazell, and I would like to1039associate myself with everything my friend from Alaska had to1040say about, I think, some of the abuses. It is even worse than1041that. I tried to get something done in H.R. 1, to go after1042third-party litigation. So it is even worse.1043    Now you have private equity. You have sovereign wealth1044funds from foreign nations investing in litigation. They get1045some of the wins. And it is absurd. So we really do need a1046whole-of-the-administration approach to getting people to1047recognize. When our office worked on the Camp Lejeune Toxics1048Act, it was to do right by the families who had suffered. And1049now you have got a bunch of slimy lawyers taking advantage and1050making more money than the people who were absolutely harmed.1051We need to go after every one of them.1052    And actually, in that same bill was the PACT Act, that I1053want to get to you a little bit later on, about some of the1054headwinds that it has created. Because, quite honestly, with1055all due respect to my colleagues here, I voted against the bill1056because it was not ready for prime time, and you are going to1057be a part of what is going to be needed to fix it.1058    Let me poison the well here and tell you, I am going to1059support your confirmation.1060    I am going to get back to a few questions in the time1061remaining, but I know the hour is late. But Mr. Chair, I want1062to read, Sarah Verardo, I think that you have met Ms. Verardo,1063from The Independence Fund. Her husband, Mike Verardo, died. I1064have got this statement I want to read to you, because I think1065it is appropriate. I spoke at his eulogy.1066    ``When my husband Michael died on August the 26th, his VA1067pay and his Army retirement pay were deposited into our account1068the very next day, August 27th. Without any notice to me, those1069payments were then reversed on 9 September, overdrafting my1070account and triggering fees. I had the means to cover it, but1071many surviving families do not. The lack of communication and1072that window between a veteran's death and the start of survivor1073benefits is unacceptable. Families need clear notice and a1074process that does not leave them financially blindsided in the1075midst of all that grief.''1076    I would like unanimous consent also to have her statement1077in the record.1078    Chairman Moran. Without objection.10791080    [The statement referred to appears on page 73 of the1081Appendix.]10821083    Senator Tillis. We have got to fix this. You know, I was1084there. I spent a lot of time at the Verardo home the night he1085died. This is the last thing she should have had to experience.1086And she has the means to get through it. A lot of people do1087not.1088    So now let me get mad so I won't cry. I am hopeful that1089somebody with your background in information technology and1090supply chain, and presumably large-scale implementations, that1091we can finally get a scheduling system that works, after1092billions of dollars that have been spent, that we can finally1093get wait times down to a level that are acceptable, because1094they have grown. In spite of all the efforts on a bipartisan1095basis, over several administrations to fix it. How do we go1096about fixing that? Or how do you propose to come in--you have1097got to know the situation. Tell me your method for actually1098going after this and giving me some hope that in my remaining1099time in the U.S. Senate I may be able to see some progress.1100    Ms. Brazell. Senator, you raise a good point. Let's address1101first the overpayment. That is unacceptable that we would do1102that to a veteran or a veteran's family. We have to address1103that. We have to ensure that we have the processes and1104procedures in place to actually have those capabilities of1105ensuring that we are not putting any veteran in financial1106burden.1107    With respect to your question about scheduling, that is for1108the health care side. But I commit to you that I will----1109    Senator Tillis. But it is a broader problem. It is the1110reason I am bringing it up. You are going to be head of the1111VBA, and there is going to be a lot of transformation1112opportunities here. I think that we are throwing money down a1113money pit, and it is not about the money. It is about the lack1114of service that we are giving veterans by throwing that money1115down the money pit. This is a $10 billion scheduling system.1116    So my point is, in the VBA, and where you need people,1117process, technology changes, can you assure me that you will do1118right by the veterans and right by Congress to spend this money1119effectively, getting the lead on target, and succeed?1120    Ms. Brazell. Senator, it will require the internal1121stakeholder engagement, but I commit that we will ensure that1122the right stakeholders at the table at the very beginning, to1123ensure that we deliver to our veterans.1124    Senator Tillis. Well, I think we need to step back, and I1125think we ought to have a discussion about the extent to which1126Benefits Administration has been affected by any of the1127decisions of Congress.1128    Here is what I will leave you with, and I hope that you1129will commit to me that you will come back here. Oftentimes the1130problems we see in various agencies are a result of bad1131decisions made by us--well intended but not very well thought1132out in terms of how to implement them. And then we bring you1133back here and flog you for not being able to implement1134something that we are responsible for not having thought1135through the implementation.1136    So I would really appreciate if you could come back to us,1137not necessarily in an open hearing, but give us a stop-start-1138continue on the kinds of things that we are doing that are1139working and the things that we should stop doing, because it1140puts you further away from the very things we are asking you to1141accomplish. That would be very helpful if we could get some1142report back, specifically within the VBA, within 90 or 120 days1143of you getting over into the job. And I would appreciate that1144feedback. Can I get that commitment from you?1145    Ms. Brazell. Senator, you have my commitment.1146    Senator Tillis. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.1147    Chairman Moran. Senator Blumenthal.1148    Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to1149be clear about some of your responses to Senator King and1150Senator Hirono. Is it your testimony that nobody has been1151discharged or fired?1152    Ms. Brazell. Outside--it is my testimony that nobody has1153been--nobody has been RIF'ed. Nobody has been RIF'ed.1154    Senator Blumenthal. Nobody has been discharged or fired. Is1155that your testimony?1156    Ms. Brazell. Nobody----1157    Senator Blumenthal. In other words, involuntarily1158separated, whatever you want to call it. But RIF'ed, I do not1159know what RIF'ed means. Tell me in the language that veterans1160can understand. Has anybody been fired?1161    Ms. Brazell. Senator Blumenthal, not to my understanding.1162    Senator Blumenthal. Not to your knowledge? What about the1163thousands of probationary employees who have been discharged?1164They have been told they do not have a job anymore.1165    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member Blumenthal, I believe that is1166under litigation, so I cannot comment on that.1167    Senator Blumenthal. You cannot comment on it, but how you1168can you say that no one has been fired, when in fact, thousands1169of probationary employees have been told, ``You're1170discharged.'' And, by the way, thousands have been hired back,1171because lo and behold, the VA discovered it needed them. Are1172you aware of that fact?1173    Ms. Brazell. Senator, I mean Ranking Member Blumenthal, I1174am not aware of that.1175    Senator Blumenthal. You are not aware of it. But your1176testimony to us is no one has been fired. I cannot believe that1177testimony. Have you spoken to anyone at your former employer1178since your beginning work at the VA, anyone at Science1179Application International Corporation?1180    Ms. Brazell. The only individuals I spoke with was one to1181actually get some information from my financial disclosure.1182That was it.1183    Senator Blumenthal. So you have not talked to anyone other1184than the person who was in charge of your financial disclosures1185facts.1186    Ms. Brazell. That is correct.1187    Senator Blumenthal. Are you aware that, of the people who1188have been separated from the VA--and it is in the thousands, is1189it not?1190    Ms. Brazell. I am not sure what you are asking me, Ranking1191Member.1192    Senator Blumenthal. One third of them have been veterans.1193Correct?1194    Ms. Brazell. I can't confirm.1195    Senator Blumenthal. What proportion have been veterans?1196    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, I do not have that number. I1197will be happy to provide that to you following this hearing.1198    Senator Blumenthal. In the VA workforce, isn't it a fact1199that 25 to 33 percent are veterans?1200    Ms. Brazell. Ranking Member, I do not have those1201statistics, and I would have to get back with you following1202this hearing.1203    Senator Blumenthal. You have worked at the VA, under the1204Trump administration, you have worked now for 7 months, and you1205do not know what proportion of the VA workforce are veterans?1206    Ms. Brazell. Not at the top of my head, what I can recall.1207    Senator Blumenthal. Did you ever care to find out?1208    Ms. Brazell. Absolutely. I am a veteran myself. But those1209have not been statistics that I have asked.1210    Senator Blumenthal. You did care to find out, but you do1211not remember?1212    Ms. Brazell. That is not what I said, Senator.1213    Senator Blumenthal. I am sorry. I----1214    Ms. Brazell. I do care. I do care, as a veteran. I think it1215is important that we look to always hire our veterans first.1216But I do not have those metrics for you at this hearing. I will1217be happy to provide those following this hearing.1218    Senator Blumenthal. Mr. Chairman, I hope that this witness,1219perhaps in written responses after this hearing, will provide1220some answers to us. I think you can tell from our side that we1221are frustrated, because these are answers that I think veterans1222deserve. You know, veterans agree or disagree, but they really1223do not have a lot of tolerance for people who just will not1224answer. So thank you, Mr. Chairman.1225    Chairman Moran. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal. I think this1226hearing is about to conclude. Let me make sure that we have1227nothing to add. And I want to give you, Doctor, the chance to1228say anything you would like to say, that maybe you want to1229clarify or something you wish you would have been asked,1230anything that you would like to add to the record before I1231close it for today.1232    Ms. Brazell. Thank you, Chairman Moran. I just want to1233thank the Committee for their time and for their consideration1234for my nomination, and if confirmed, I will ensure that all1235veterans are delivered timely and accurate benefits.1236    Chairman Moran. Thank you. There are no further questions,1237and I thank the Committee members and certainly our witness and1238our audience for being here today.1239    Any Member, and this is what Senator Blumenthal was talking1240about what you were agreeing to do, Dr. Brazell, any Member who1241would like to send a question for the record to this nominee1242should do so as soon as possible, but no later than the close1243of business tomorrow. I did not say that quite correctly, but1244should do so as soon as possible, and then we need your1245response shortly thereafter. And this is your testimony today1246but your response to those questions are just like they are on1247the record, and will be considered by the Committee in your1248nomination process.1249    And with that the Committee is adjourned.1250    [Whereupon, at 5:08 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]12511252                            A P P E N D I X12531254                           Opening Statement12551256    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]12571258                        Nomination Material for12591260                            KAREN L. BRAZELL12611262    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]12631264                       Submission for the Record12651266    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]12671268                                  [all]