WASHINGTON (AP) — Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego announced Tuesday he will block the confirmation of top leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs, raising the stakes in Democrats' bid to get the Trump administration to back off plans to cut jobs from the sprawling agency that serves millions of military veterans.
Gallego, a Democrat and Marine Corps veteran, made the announcement just hours before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs was scheduled to hear testimony from three nominees for the VA who are military veterans themselves. It marked a significant escalation in the Democrat's effort to counter President Donald Trump's plans to slash federal agencies and a sharply partisan move on a committee that has often been marked by cooperation between Republicans and Democrats.
“Talking to veterans, people that I served with as well as seeing some of what's happening in Arizona, I decided that whatever tool I have to fix the situation, I'm going to use it. And this is one of the few tools I have at this point," Gallego told The Associated Press.
The holds — a maneuver used on occasion in the Senate — means that it is impossible for the chamber to move quickly to confirm the nominees and would potentially have to tie up hours or days of floor time to advance each nominee.
California Sen. Adam Schiff, another freshman Democrat, also announced Tuesday he would block Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., Ed Martin. Schiff said on social media that since being named to the role on an interim basis, Martin had been “threatening opponents, firing public servants, and using his office to chill free speech.”
At the VA, there are 13 Senate-confirmed positions, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Two of those — VA Secretary Doug Collins and deputy secretary Paul Lawrence — have already been confirmed. Trump has made nominations for five other positions, while six have not yet received a nominee.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, in 2023 put a hold on the promotions of hundreds of top military officers to protest Pentagon policy on abortions, but under pressure from his own party, eventually dropped most of his blockade.
Gallego acknowledged that his decision carried some risk. He said that he had hoped for collaboration with Collins, the Cabinet secretary, and even voted for his confirmation. But since then, he said he has struggled to get answers from the VA's leadership.
The VA is in the midst of plans to cut its workforce by over 80,000 people. That would take it to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000 — before it had to provide benefits to veterans impacted by burn pits and exposure to other toxins under the 2022 PACT Act.
“Imagine how much better off veterans would be if lawmakers like Sen. Gallego cared as much about fixing VA as they do about protecting the department’s broken bureaucracy," VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz said in a statement.
Kasperowicz noted that VA's health care has been placed on the Government Accountability Office’s high-risk list because it faces “system-wide challenges in overseeing patient safety and access to care, hiring critical staff, and meeting future infrastructure needs.” He added that Collins' goal is to make the VA work better for veterans and their families.
While Collins has pledged that veterans' benefits won't be affected, Democrats are pushing back on the plans and warning that it comes at the expense of care for those who served in the military. Gallego pointed to one VA hospital in Arizona that he said had received a directive to cut 15% of its staff.
“As someone who actually has used that VA, you know I had services there done in the past. There’s no way they’re going to be able to cut 15% of the workforce, and it's not going to impact veterans' benefits," he said.
FILE - Sen. Ruben Gallego D-Az., speaks at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing for at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 4, 2025--
The American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC), in partnership with EQT Corporation (EQT), Halliburton Company (Halliburton), and Range Resources, on Thursday hosted Department of the Interior Secretary and Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council Doug Burgum for a Marcellus shale field visit in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250404775593/en/
Secretary Burgum visited a hydraulic fracturing site highlighting modern energy development and the vital role of Pennsylvania oil and gas in meeting America’s growing energy needs. The event emphasized the importance of smart energy policies that unleash American energy and featured Halliburton’s Zeus® intelligent electric fracturing platform at a Range Resources site, demonstrating how innovation is boosting domestic supply while lowering emissions and costs.
“AXPC is proud to bring together industry leaders and policymakers to see firsthand how American innovation is driving record energy production,” said AXPC CEO Anne Bradbury. “With the right policies in place, we can continue to grow production, support good-paying jobs, and lower costs for families across the country — all while reducing emissions and enhancing our energy independence.”
“EQT is proud to have joined energy leaders, local officials, our community, and employees in welcoming Secretary Burgum to Western Pennsylvania — home to one of the world’s richest natural gas reserves,” said Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT. “The Administration’s decision to visit Appalachia within its first 100 days highlights its recognition of this region’s key role in securing America’s energy future. We look forward to further working with Secretary Burgum and the Interior Department to ensure a secure, reliable, and sustainable energy future for all Americans.”
“Over the last 70 years, Halliburton developed and continues to evolve hydraulic fracturing, while proudly manufacturing our equipment in Duncan, Oklahoma,” said Mark Richard, President, Western Hemisphere, Halliburton. “It’s through collaboration and our spirit of innovation that we have advanced fracturing operations to an intelligent, autonomous platform. The Zeus® platform increases efficiency, maximizes production and helps unleash energy across the United States and around the world.”
“The blue-collar spirit is why Pennsylvanians have always rolled up their sleeves when the world needed them — and we’re ready to do it again to help the U.S. meet its energy needs,” said Dennis Degner, CEO, Range Resources. “By leveraging American energy, we can drive American excellence and lead the way in powering innovation, strengthening national security, and advancing the next generation of manufacturing and technology.”
The site visit and discussion highlighted the opportunity for American energy producers to meet growing demand at home and abroad as well as drive emissions reductions and support local communities. Achieving these goals depends on domestic energy policies that promote continued investment and production.
Full event remarks here.
About AXPC
AXPC is the voice of the leading independent U.S. energy producers. We promote the inherent value of American-made oil and natural gas. We educate and advocate for responsible upstream development and constructive federal solutions with policymakers, industry partners, and the media. We actively support our members’ commitment to continuous improvement.
About EQT Corporation
EQT Corporation is a premier, vertically integrated American natural gas company with production and midstream operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day – trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do.
About Halliburton Company
Halliburton is one of the world’s leading providers of products and services to the energy industry. Founded in 1919, we create innovative technologies, products, and services that help our customers maximize their value throughout the life cycle of an asset and advance a sustainable energy future. Visit us at halliburton.com; connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
About Range Resources
Range Resources Corporation (NYSE: RRC) is a leading U.S. independent natural gas and NGL producer with operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. More information about Range can be found at www.rangeresources.com.
Secretary Burgum visited a hydraulic fracturing site highlighting modern energy development and the vital role of Pennsylvania oil and gas in meeting America’s growing energy needs.
