Secretary’s Blog

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III honored Vietnam War Veterans during a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., March 29, 2021.

On March 29, our Nation will commemorate National Vietnam War Veterans Day on its 50th anniversary, an opportunity for VA employees and all Americans to recognize and thank our Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice during one of America’s longest wars.

As VA secretary, I will ensure that VA operates in a culture that celebrates and draws strength from our country’s great diversity.

Today, March 8th, is the 110th anniversary of International Women's Day. It is the perfect time to pause, recognize, and honor the enormous contributions and accomplishments of women from all walks of life who have long served as champions of social change and equal rights for all Americans.

As our country’s celebration of Black history comes to a close, a profoundly moving experience reminded me of the rich history of selfless service and sacrifice that Black Veterans have made to this nation.

This plan supports our priority of providing Veterans timely, world-class healthcare. Here’s a few things those targeted funds will allow us to do: It will allow us to ensure that our 9.3 million enrolled Veterans will not have healthcare delayed. The pandemic has resulted in 19.7 million cancelled, delayed or moved appointments. These changes are not only taxing on our Veterans—they may also result in additional costs, forced cancellation, and delays. The plan will allow the Veterans Health Administration and our Information Technology team to sustain and expand telehealth capabilities critical for video-to-home telehealth visits.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough toured the DC VA Medical Center to see first-hand how healthcare professionals care for Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Senate confirmed VA Secretary nominee Denis R. McDonough on Monday, February 8, 2021. He is the eleventh VA secretary. 

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie: In 2020, America faced a crisis in the form of COVID-19. And it became VA’s responsibility to see our Veterans through it.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie: "Each Veterans Day is a remembrance set aside to honor those who have defended our country in peace and war."

Here at VA, we take time during this 31-day period to praise those men and women of Hispanic descent who didn’t just enjoy America’s freedoms, they chose to take up arms to defend those freedoms.

Reducing national suicide, including for Veterans, is the goal of a new REACH campaign, unveiled July 7 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The campaign mission is to “take care of our emotional well-being and the well-being of those we love,” reaching out to “those who are most vulnerable.”