Exclusive: Collins details aggressive modernization effort aimed at cutting wait times, expanding outreach, and restoring trust across the Department of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON | In a sweeping push to modernize one of the federal government’s largest and most scrutinized agencies, Doug Collins says the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is undergoing a fundamental transformation—one already yielding measurable results for millions of veterans.
In an exclusive interview with 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Defense News, Collins outlined a reform agenda that has slashed the VA’s disability claims backlog by more than half—from over 260,000 cases to fewer than 100,000—while simultaneously processing more than 3 million claims in the past year alone.
For a system long criticized for delays and bureaucratic inefficiencies, the numbers represent a significant operational shift. But Collins argues the deeper story is cultural.
“The VA only exists if a veteran walks in,” Collins said, underscoring a renewed focus on a “veteran-first” mission that is reshaping internal priorities and frontline decision-making.

