America Sends Its Veterans To War. It Shouldn’t Abandon Them When They Come Home |
An average of over seventeen veterans die by suicide every day. Nearly one million more wait six months or longer for benefits they’ve already earned. And the recent poll by “The Honest Polling Company” shows that Americans, by a margin of 80 percent, want some sort of veteran care reform.
But on Sept. 8, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities.” The order directs the Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs to share military personnel files and service treatment records on a permanent basis within 180 days.
Hundreds of thousands leave the service each year, and many do not even know the resources available to them because there is “no one-stop shop” to view the menu.
The private sector and veterans’ transition protocols still don’t talk to each other and cannot translate those skills into work, income, or care on a reliable timeline.
The private sector has failed to realize the pool of the most trainable individuals, and the government has failed to market them adequately. In fact, its answer has been to label veterans “damaged goods,” when in fact much of the post-service damage comes from the government’s inability to........