Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins swung by way of San Antonio on Wednesday, touring the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, speaking up the potential of psychedelics for PTSD remedy and warning that Democrats wish to reduce advantages for veterans.
Collins, a former Georgia congressman, took over the function shortly after President Donald Trump’s return to workplace in 2025.
He’s stayed out of the highlight in comparison with different cupboard members, whereas searching for to modernize his company in methods some wouldn’t have anticipated.
“I mentioned, ‘Mr. President, what would you like me to do on the VA? What’s your purpose?’” Collins recalled Wednesday morning on the VFW in Common Metropolis. “He simply checked out me, he kind of laughed. He mentioned, ‘Doug, you’re out of central casting, simply go care for veterans.’”
The federal authorities is getting nearer to finalizing plans for a brand new 1.6 million-square-foot Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital within the South Texas Medical Heart, which Collins spoke briefly about.
“It’s within the finances this 12 months, 30 million for land acquisition and shifting ahead with plans to construct a brand new facility down right here,” Collins mentioned. “We see the problems with parking, we see the problems which can be taking place, nevertheless it’s additionally a part of a rising inhabitants of veterans out right here, which we’re actually happy with. We’re making an attempt to maneuver this facility as much as get it accomplished as rapidly as we probably can.”
He additionally talked up efforts to broaden psychological well being look after veterans, together with efforts to spice up analysis into psychedelics, and get extra veterans utilizing their advantages.
“We have now taken on concepts like redoing Group Care, redoing how folks get into it,” he mentioned. “We’ve talked about loads of issues [like] how we reorganize our hospitals, placing them first, going into psychedelic remedy, going into various therapies, doing the issues that must be [done] for the veterans.”
He additionally stumped for Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz on the Common Metropolis occasion, warning that the GOP is headed into a troublesome 2026 midterm, and leaders in D.C. want De La Cruz to assist them cease Democrats from slicing veterans’ well being advantages.
“There’s a dialogue occurring among the many different facet, the Democrats, who principally are attempting to say issues like ‘Group care progress is going on just a little too quick,’” Collins mentioned. “… I’ll simply let you know what the interpretation of that’s: ‘We wish to reduce veterans advantages.’ I want Carlos up there to say, ‘no.’”
Collins used his speeches at Audie Murphy and the VFW in charge the media for casting doubt on the quantity of advantages veterans ought to obtain.
However regardless of quite a few veterans’ efforts within the works right here in San Antonio — a brand new VA hospital, a possible relocation of the Protection Well being Company, and a brand new enterprise incubator for veterans — Collins darted out of occasions with out ever talking on to the press.
Democrats have additionally been making a play for veteran voters forward of the 2026 midterm election, making an attempt to capitalize on an unpopular warfare with Iran and the Trump Administration’s reductions to the VA’s workforce.
The administration reduce almost 28,000 VA staff between January and December of 2025 — together with 2,200 in Texas alone — leading to employees reductions at veterans’ well being clinics.
In an interview after the marketing campaign occasion in Common Metropolis, De La Cruz mentioned he additionally didn’t get a lot time for questions with the secretary.
He mentioned Collins used their closed-door roundtable with native veterans this morning to share updates about modifications he’s made on the company, and burdened the uphill nature of turning round issues inherited from the earlier administration.
“We didn’t get loads of one-on-one time, however I’m simply so grateful that he got here down right here for our veterans,” De La Cruz mentioned.
