    [Senate Hearing 119-87]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                             S. Hrg. 119-87

                    HEARING TO CONSIDER PENDING NOMINATIONS

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                         COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                        ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION
                                   __________

                                  JUNE 4, 2025
                                   __________

           Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                  [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

            Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
                                    ______

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    60-596 PDF                 WASHINGTON : 2025

                     SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                         Jerry Moran, Kansas, Chairman
    John Boozman, Arkansas               Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut,
    Bill Cassidy, Louisiana                Ranking Member
    Thom Tillis, North Carolina          Patty Murray, Washington
    Dan Sullivan, Alaska                 Bernard Sanders, Vermont
    Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee          Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii
    Kevin Cramer, North Dakota           Margaret Wood Hassan, New
    Tommy Tuberville, Alabama              Hampshire
    Jim Banks, Indiana                   Angus S. King, Jr., Maine
    Tim Sheehy, Montana                  Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
                                         Ruben Gallego, Arizona
                                         Elissa Slotkin, Michigan

                         David Shearman, Staff Director
                    Tony McClain, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------

                                  June 4, 2025

                                    SENATORS

                                                                       Page
    Hon. Jerry Moran, Chairman, U.S. Senator from Kansas.............     1
    Hon. Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member, U.S. Senator from
      Connecticut....................................................     4
    Hon. Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama.................     8
    Hon. Patty Murray, U.S. Senator from Washington..................     9
    Hon. Margaret Wood Hassan, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.......    11
    Hon. Angus S. King, Jr., U.S. Senator from Maine.................    12
    Hon. Mazie K. Hirono, U.S. Senator from Hawaii...................    14
    Hon. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator from Illinois.................    16

                                    NOMINEES

                                    Panel I

    Hon. Cheryl Mason, Nominee To Be Inspector General, U.S.
      Department of Veterans Affairs.................................     2

                                    Panel II

    Don Bergin, Nominee To Be Assistant Secretary for Congressional
      and Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...    20

                                    APPENDIX

                               Opening Statement

    Hon. Richard Blumenthal..........................................    35

                                  Introducers

    Hon. Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator from North Carolina...............    41

    Hon. John Cornyn, U.S. Senator from Texas........................    45

                              Nomination Material

    Hon. Cheryl Mason, Nominee

      Prepared statement.............................................    49

      Response to Pre-Hearing Questions for the Record submitted by:

        Hon. Jerry Moran.............................................    52

        Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................    58

      Response to Questions for the Record submitted by:

        Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................    66

        Hon. Angus S. King, Jr.......................................    78

        Hon. Marsha Blackburn........................................    82

        Hon. Bill Cassidy............................................    84

      Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees........................    85

                          Nomination Material (cont.)

    Don Bergin, Nominee

      Prepared statement.............................................   115

      Response to Pre-Hearing Questions for the Record submitted by:

        Hon. Jerry Moran.............................................   119

        Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................   125

      Response to Questions for the Record submitted by:

        Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................   132

      Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees........................   133

                           Submissions for the Record

    Excerpt provided by Senator Duckworth of Public Law 110-409,
      Section 3(b), ``Inspector General Act of 1978''................   147

    Government Executive article ``VA forces staff in workforce
      reduction discussions to sign non-disclosure agreements''......   148

    The New York Times article ``8 Inspectors General Fired by Trump
      File Lawsuit Seeking Reinstatement''...........................   150

    The New York Times article ``Fired Inspectors General Raise
      Alarms as Trump Administration Moves to Finalize Purge''.......   153

    Senator Blumenthal letter dated May 22, 2025 to The Honorable
      Tammy Hull, Acting Chair, Council of the Inspectors General on
      Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE)...............................   159

    Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
      (CIGIE) response to Senator Blumenthal letter dated May 22,
      2025...........................................................   161

    Government Executive article ``NDAs for VA employees working on
      staff reduction plans prompts House Dems probe''...............   165

    Government Executive article ``Trump's picks for oversight roles
      will jeopardize independent scrutiny of government operations,
      watchdog group says''..........................................   167

    Government Executive article ``VA blocks its benefits employees
      from speaking freely to the department's lawyers''.............   170

                          HEARING TO CONSIDER PENDING
                                  NOMINATIONS

                                  ----------

                            WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025

                                           U.S. Senate,
                                Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 4:06 p.m., in
    Room SR-418, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Jerry Moran,
    Chairman of the Committee, presiding.

        Present: Senators Moran, Tuberville, Blumenthal, Murray,
    Hirono, Hassan, King, and Duckworth.

                 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,
                   CHAIRMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS

        Chairman Moran. Good afternoon, everyone. This hearing will
    come to order. Good afternoon and thank you for your presence
    here today. We're going to consider the nominees for the VA
    Inspector General and the Assistant Secretary for Congressional
    and Legislative Affairs. We'll do so respectively, two
    different panels. These are two really important and I think
    difficult positions, and I'm pleased to have two candidates
    that are committed to--for our consideration, to pursue and
    perform these duties of these positions.
        I've spoken many times here in this hearing and elsewhere
    about the importance of having a Senate-confirmed Inspector
    General. The IGs work is essential to identifying areas where
    the VA is falling short, and this Committee's job would be much
    harder without the help of an Inspector General.
        Before us today is a lawyer, a military spouse, a leader
    who has been appointed to high level positions within the VA by
    both President Biden and President Trump, and I look forward to
    hearing this afternoon how Cheryl Mason, the nominee for VA
    Inspector General, would continue the IGs independent
    oversight, if she's confirmed.
        Similarly, I look forward to hearing how Don Bergin, the
    nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Congressional and
    Legislative Affairs would improve transparency, timeliness, and
    substance of the VA's communications with this Committee and
    Congress as a whole, if he is confirmed.
        Regardless of which party is in the White House, or which
    party has control of Congress, the Department of Veterans
    Affairs has never been as open and as forthcoming as they
    should be. I'm hopeful that Don, a veteran lawyer and former
    congressional liaison for the Marine Corps, and a former Senate
    staffer, will be able to detail his plans for helping the VA
    quickly improve on that front in his testimony today.
        I appreciate both nominees and their family members for
    being here today, and for their interest in taking on these
    roles. In the absence of Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murray,
    anything you want to say?
        Senator Murray. I will just ask to put his statement in the
    record, and welcome Ms. Mason to the Committee.
        Chairman Moran. Without objection.

        [The opening statement of Senator Blumenthal appears on
    page 35 of the Appendix.]

        Senator Tillis and Senator Cornyn had planned on being here
    today to introduce Ms. Mason and Mr. Bergin, but due to their
    scheduling circumstances are unable to join us. And I ask
    unanimous consent that their statements be submitted for the
    record. Without objection.

        [Introduction statements from Senator Tillis and Senator
    Cornyn appear on pages 41 and 45 of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, before being recognized for your
    opening statement, please stand and raise your right hand. Do
    you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to
    give before the United States Senate Committee on Veterans
    Affairs will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
    truth, so help you God?
        Ms. Mason. I do.
        Chairman Moran. Thank you. Thank you very much. And Cheryl
    Mason, you are now recognized for your statement.

                                PANEL I

                              ----------

        STATEMENT OF HON. CHERYL MASON, NOMINEE TO BE INSPECTOR
              GENERAL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator. Chairman Moran,
    distinguished Members of this Committee, I'm honored to sit
    before you today as the President's nominee to be Inspector
    General of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
        I'm joined today by my husband of 39 years, Brett Mason,
    Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Air Force, retired, our youngest son,
    Trevor, and my brother's widow and his adult children. Our
    oldest son, Bryan, sends his regrets as he was unable to
    attend.
        Since 1865, when President Lincoln proclaimed our Nation's
    duty was to care for those who had borne the battle, their
    widows, and orphans, our country has made care for our veterans
    a tenet. This is the core mission of VA. If confirmed, I pledge
    to uphold my lifelong commitment to the Constitution and to our
    veterans, their families, survivors, and caregivers.
        My commitment to those who serve this country is deep and
    personal. As an Air Force veteran's spouse, daughter of a Navy
    veteran, sister of an Army Guardsman, and proud American, I am
    one of those survivors and a dependent such as those VA serves.
    My father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, but he
    lost his battle with mental health and died by suicide when I
    was 4 years old.
        My family lived in Appalachia, and we didn't know about the
    benefits and care he could have received from VA. And as I sit
    here today, decades later, there are still veterans in this
    country who do not know about the veteran services they can
    receive. While others wait much too long for their benefits and
    care. This is not acceptable.
        I also lost my only brother, that Army National Guardsman,
    to suicide when he was 34 years old. My brother's widow and
    children received no benefits following his death, and they had
    to fight to get him recognized as a veteran. This is not
    acceptable.
        It was my mother, a Rosie the Riveter, during World War II
    and a public servant, government teacher for more than 30
    years, who steered our family through these challenging times.
    She instilled in me the value of public service, the importance
    of the Constitution and the U.S. Government, and the impact of
    making a difference to others and to our Nation.
        My experiences as a military spouse amplified my
    understanding of the tremendous sacrifice made by the men and
    women who commit themselves to the defense of this Nation. When
    I became a lawyer, I made it my lifelong commitment to serve
    veterans and military families.
        With more than 30 years as a government employee, to
    include 28 at Department of Veterans Affairs, I have countless
    hours of service to veterans and their families as a veterans
    law judge and as a VA attorney. It was an honor to be nominated
    by President Trump in 2017 and advanced by this Committee under
    the leadership of Senators Isakson and Tester, and confirmed by
    the Senate to serve as the first woman and military spouse,
    chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals.
        And as chairman, I worked with Members of Congress and
    Senators and staff of this Committee with its long history of
    bipartisan accomplishments and commitment on behalf of American
    veterans, to address mental health and suicide, increase
    accountability, and improve access to benefits and care and
    services with the Appeals Modernization Act, the MISSION Act,
    the Blue Water Navy Act, and the VA Telehealth Modernization
    Act. I was humbled by Senator Tester's tribute to me in the
    January 2023rd Congressional Record regarding my advocacy and
    commitment to veterans through my many years of service in the
    government.
        It's an honor to be nominated by President Trump and
    considered by this Committee to be the VA Inspector General. I
    remain dedicated to ensuring veterans receive VA benefits,
    care, and services they earned. And I strongly believe that the
    VA has to be held accountable to deliver such. Our veterans and
    their families are counting on it.
        My leadership and lifelong experience demonstrate my
    impartiality, my expertise, my skills, and judgment to be a
    highly effective Inspector General. My professional legal
    career provided me with valuable expertise and experience in
    investigations, audits, and inspections, focusing on the facts
    and the evidence, and applying the law.
        The VA Inspector General plays a crucial and independent
    role in ensuring the VA meets its mission by promoting
    efficiency and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. Recent
    reports from this body, OIG, GAO, and others, highlight the
    need for improvements of VA's services to veterans. If
    confirmed, I will use the authority provided by law to
    implement strong oversight, and strengthen programs, and
    policy, and culture at VA.
        As chairman and veterans law judge, I acted independently,
    issuing decisions to be followed by VA, guarding the
    impartiality and independence of the board, and I will do the
    same as if confirmed as IG. This is indeed a great
    responsibility, and I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking
    Member Blumenthal, Members of this Committee, that if
    confirmed, I will uphold that trust on behalf of all men and
    women who serve, all those who have served, and the American
    public.
        Thank you. I look forward to your questions.

        [The prepared statement of Ms. Mason appears on page 49 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, thank you very much. Senator
    Blumenthal, the Ranking Member, is recognized.

                        HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL,
             RANKING MEMBER, U.S. SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT

        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. Thank you to Senator Murray
    for putting my opening statement in the record.
        I will just add two quick points. First of all, the Office
    of Inspector General is one that has to be completely
    nonpartisan and independent. We have never, I am told,
    confirmed someone for that position who was a political
    appointee already serving in any department. You would be
    unique in that regard, which gives me tremendous pause. And it
    has to be seen in the context of the firing of most of our
    inspectors general by the President of the United States,
    illegally done in a way that seems really regrettable.
        So, what we need now, more than any time in our history, is
    a person in that position who is nonpolitical, completely
    nonpartisan, and independent. The alternative is for the
    credibility of the office to be diminished. And so, I think you
    have the burden of proof at this point before this Committee to
    show that you will in fact pursue the kind of waste, fraud, and
    abuse--to use the classic phraseology that has come to be so
    commonly used that it has lost a lot of its meaning and in
    reality has been ignored by this administration.
        So, that is as much as I think I need to say right now, my
    full statement is in the record. And thank you for your
    willingness to serve, to you, and Mr. Bergin. We look forward
    to your testimony further.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Blumenthal, thank you. Ms. Mason,
    along the lines, you indicated during your opening statement
    about some of the things that Senator Blumenthal is talking
    about. But I share, my number one question on my list is to ask
    you how your experience as a senior advisor to Secretary
    Collins will inform your work and priorities as the VA
    Inspector General, and how would you maintain objectivity, and
    independence, and avoid even the appearance of impropriety
    given that you have been serving as a senior political leader
    at the department when you're now undertaking a new task with
    different responsibilities?
        Ms. Mason. Well, thank you, Senator Moran, and I appreciate
    the question. And, Senator Blumenthal, I acknowledge your
    remarks.
        So, let me start with facts and evidence. As a lawyer, and
    as a previous investigator, facts are extremely important. So,
    let's look at the facts of who Cheryl Mason is and my track
    record. I noted that I had worked at the department for 28
    years as part of my 30 years of service. Those 28 years were
    spent at the Board of Veterans Appeals, an independent,
    impartial organization that holds the vet, holds the department
    accountable to follow the law and implement veterans' benefits
    and services that under the decisions made. I spent 20 years of
    my time, including my time as chairman, as a judge at the
    board.
        So, when the President asked me to return as senior
    advisor, the role is not as many assume, the senior advisor
    role may be--at least not my role as senior advisor--my role
    was to use that knowledge I had at VA, and that experience I
    had as an impartial, independent fact-finder and advisor to the
    Secretary on things I understood and knew about VA as a
    subject-matter expert in veterans law and in leadership.
        So, the senior advisor role was to convey, gather
    information much like a fact-finder does, and convey that
    information to the Secretary and to other senior leaders. So,
    it's very--it correlates well to Inspector General. The
    difference is Inspector General has teeth, and that is very
    much what is needed.
        In the department, I saw it from my 28 years in the
    department as an attorney, and judge, and chairman. I had to
    protect the independence of the board on a number occasions
    against interference. And, you know, those are things that I
    would do again, as Inspector General, if confirmed
        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, under the Inspector General Act,
    the IG serves under the VA Secretary, but has a dual and
    independent reporting relationship with the United States
    Congress. Explain how, if confirmed, would you balance those
    dual responsibilities owed to separate branches of the
    government whose interests may at times conflict?
        Ms. Mason. Well, thank you for that question, Chairman
    Moran. And, you know, as the daughter of a government teacher,
    I cut my teeth on the Watergate hearings, I well understand the
    differences and the responsibilities of all three branches of
    government; the executive branch, and the judicial branch, and
    the legislative branch.
        And indeed, as you note, an Inspector General is unique as
    much as I am in serving both reporting to the Secretary and
    reporting to this Committee. And I acknowledge the oversight of
    this Committee just as I did as chairman. It's extremely
    important that you have that relationship with the IG so that
    you can bring those issues and you can also report those same
    issues to the Secretary to ensure there's awareness of issues
    and concerns that--so the Secretary needs to know what's going
    on in his world, and you need to know what's going on at VA.
        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, why do you think the VA has yet
    to implement so many recommendations made by the Inspector
    General? And, if confirmed, how would you anticipate working
    with the VA to close out as many of those recommendations as
    possible and make certain that future recommendations by the IG
    are acted on in a much more timely manner?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question, Chairman. If
    confirmed, that is one of the areas that does concern me. There
    are over 500 pending open, unimplemented recommendations from
    the IG. Some going back as long as seven years. I believe there
    needs to be an inventory and accountability on those follow-ups
    with all of those recommendations.
        Even the ones that the department has taken, it's the
    responsibility of the IG to follow up and monitor to ensure
    that those are properly being followed. And that's something
    that I would be setting up as IG, working with the staff as I
    assess how they work and how they do their work. Because I
    think following up with those important recommendations to
    ensure that we're providing the best services, care, and
    benefits to veterans is extremely important.
        Chairman Moran. Thank you for your answers to my questions,
    Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thanks. Let me ask you, if confirmed,
    will you launch an investigation into Secretary Collins's mass
    termination of employees, which have been found illegal by the
    courts?
        Ms. Mason. Senator Blumenthal, thank you for that question.
    If confirmed, the responsibility of the IG is to look at all
    concerns and issues that it brings up itself, whereas the
    Committee brings up or others. And so----
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, I'm asking you about the
    terminations in particular----
        Ms. Mason. If there are----
        Senator Blumenthal. Would you want investigation into those
    terminations?
        Ms. Mason. If there are terminations that impact the
    benefits, and care, and service to veterans that are improper,
    IG will look into them. Yes.
        Senator Blumenthal. It's been found to be illegal. Won't
    you investigate?
        Ms. Mason. Well, I would investigate if--but some of those
    issues are currently in litigation with the courts, and so it
    wouldn't be appropriate for me to comment on them at this time.
        Senator Blumenthal. Will you investigate the Secretary's
    proposed reorganization?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question, Senator Blumenthal.
    I can't investigate anything until the action occurs. So, OIG
    would definitely look at that with the team and assess whether
    there needs to be an investigation into that.
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, you can investigate actions that
    are taken preliminarily to a final plan or action. Let me ask
    you, have you had any role in either the firings of VA
    employees to date?
        Ms. Mason. No, I have not, Senator.
        Senator Blumenthal. And what about the plans to fire as
    many as 83,000 more?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question. I have not had a
    role in any of those activities. Those activities were handled
    by the HRA team and general counsel.
        Senator Blumenthal. Have you participated in the
    realignment of senior executive service staff across the board,
    VBA, and Office of General Counsel?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question, Senator. The
    situation there was the acting secretary decided to direct some
    changes across the administrations and staff offices under the
    President's Executive order to restore accountability to the
    career SESs and follow the 1979 SES Act. And he felt that it
    was important to reassign some of these people to ensure
    collaboration.
        Senator Blumenthal. I don't understand. Have you played a
    role in that realignment?
        Ms. Mason. My role was to convey the reassignments to the
    staff offices that were in my portfolio.
        Senator Blumenthal. So, you have participated in those
    actions?
        Ms. Mason. I did not participate. I conveyed the acting
    secretary's direction to reassign those people.
        Senator Blumenthal. Okay. We can argue about words here,
    but I think you get my point, which is you're unwilling to
    review mass firings which have been found to be illegal. You
    are unwilling to be forthright in your responses to these
    questions. You served the Secretary of the VA, correct?
        Ms. Mason. I served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of
    VA for a period of time, but again, as I explained, my role
    was----
        Senator Blumenthal. And to his team?
        Ms. Mason. I'm sorry, to his team?
        Senator Blumenthal. You served as an advisor to him, and
    you've worked with his team, correct?
        Ms. Mason. I served as advisor to the Secretary, and I
    advised those within my portfolio as to the directions the
    Secretary directed.
        Senator Blumenthal. And you've considered yourself to be a
    loyal aide, correct?
        Ms. Mason. I consider myself to be an impartial,
    independent aide to the department because that's my role.
        Senator Blumenthal. You considered yourself to be a loyal
    aide, correct?
        Ms. Mason. I am loyal to the veterans. That's who I serve.
    That's who I'm loyal to.
        Senator Blumenthal. You work for him?
        Ms. Mason. I work for the President and the Secretary, but
    I also, if confirmed as IG, will work for this Committee.
        Senator Blumenthal. Have you been involved in the request
    of VA employees to sign non-disclosure agreements?
        Ms. Mason. Senator, I have not.
        Senator Blumenthal. You have had no involvement?
        Ms. Mason. I have had no involvement in that activity.
        Senator Blumenthal. What is your involvement in the
    reorganization and the RIFs that Secretary Collins has planned?
        Ms. Mason. Senator Blumenthal, I have had no involvement in
    that activity.
        Senator Blumenthal. What have you done?
        Ms. Mason. Well, again, my information--my role as senior
    advisor is to gather information. When you look at how----
        Senator Blumenthal. Seems like you haven't been earning
    your pay.
        Ms. Mason. Well, I have because the department is quite
    siloed, as you know, and VBA is very siloed and----
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, what have you done?
        Ms. Mason. So, I've been investigating and looking at VBA,
    and providing advice to the VBA leadership as well as other
    careerists at the board and at National Cemetery
    Administration. So, I've been earning my pay 12-hour days
    almost every day.
        Senator Blumenthal. So, you have been earning your pay as a
    loyal advisor, a member of the Collins' team, an employee at
    his behest, a political appointee, not as a career civil
    servant. You are a political appointee as Inspector General,
    and that is why I will object to your nomination. Thank you,
    Mr. Chairman.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Tuberville.

                         HON. TOMMY TUBERVILLE,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ALABAMA

        Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Mason,
    thanks for being here. The Office of Inspector General recently
    put out a report highlighting reports within the fiduciary
    program such as failures with training protocol. Can you commit
    to working with me and my staff to developing solutions to make
    the program work better for our most vulnerable veterans?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator Tuberville, and absolutely I
    can commit to do that. I think that's extremely important.
        Senator Tuberville. Thank you. The Inspector General has
    put out several reports highlighting failures with the Suicide
    Crisis Line. How would you work with Secretary Collins to
    ensure these recommendations are implemented to support
    veterans and reduce suicide?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question, Senator Tuberville.
    As we discussed in your office, I'm very--suicide is very
    personal to me. I've had two suicides in my family. Both were
    veterans. And so, I take that very seriously. And I've looked
    at the IG reports, and I've looked at the other things the
    department is doing, and there are several activities going on
    now.
        Currently, as a senior advisor of VEO, I'm looking at some
    of the suicide actions that are being taken to prevent--to do
    prevention, and awareness, and our partnerships, and I would
    continue to advise to do that. If confirmed as IG, I would
    continue to look at those actions to include the grants on
    mental health and suicide that the department has, make sure
    there's appropriate oversight into that, as well as what the
    crisis line is doing. Ensure that they are properly staffed,
    and have the right support and resources they need to answer
    those calls because those calls do save lives.
        Senator Tuberville. Thank you. When confirmed, what will be
    your first thing that you want to do as a new IG?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator, for that question. I think,
    the first thing I want to do is really get a good assessment of
    the office. I want to make sure the accountability is extremely
    important, and the integrity of that office is extremely
    important.
        And I have no reason to think that they don't operate that
    way now, but IG has to operate that way as independent and
    impartial. And so, I want to make sure that they, one, are
    operating that way in everything they do, but they also have
    the adequate resources. And then find out what their current
    investigations are, see where they are in those investigations.
        But right behind that, is follow-up on those open
    unimplemented recommendations and figure out how we bring those
    to close with the department and with this Committee.
        Senator Tuberville. Thank you.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you.
        Senator Tuberville. I yield my time.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Murray.

                           HON. PATTY MURRAY,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON

        Senator Murray. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Ms.
    Mason, you did say on your questionnaire that you continued to
    be a senior advisor to Secretary Collins after you were
    nominated to become the Inspector General, monitoring his
    agency while you were senior advisor to Secretary Collins. What
    discussions were you involved in related to abruptly canceling
    contracts or ending DEI efforts or eliminating outreach to
    LGBTQ+?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for the question, Senator Murray. And
    to be clear, yes, at the time I answered the questionnaire, I
    was senior advisor to the Secretary. That role ended very
    quickly after I submitted that questionnaire. I'm now senior
    advisor to the VEO and do not sit in the Secretary's suite.
        Senator Murray. Well, what----
        Ms. Mason. So, as for your question as to those roles, the
    only roles I had with contracts were ensuring that the
    organizations that were in my portfolio knew that they needed
    to justify the contracts and ensure that they responded timely.
    I did not review contracts. I was not involved in those.
        As far as in the DEI situation, that was an Executive
    order. And shortly after the senior advisors came in, they were
    followed by more senior advisors, and that was not something
    that was on my plate. That belonged to general counsel and the
    senior advisor who was charged with EOs.
        Senator Murray. What--oh, well, I mean, I'd ask Senator
    Blumenthal's question again. What substantive work were you
    doing if you weren't involved in any of that?
        Ms. Mason. Well, again, my role as senior advisor was to
    look into actions that were going on in the administrations----
        Senator Murray. But a lot of the actions that were going on
    in the administration that we know about were about ending DEI,
    about firing employees, about canceling contracts. So, that was
    most of the activity that was going on there, so.
        Ms. Mason. That was not in my portfolio. There were
    separate senior advisors assigned to that. My portfolio was
    looking at the way those organizations operated and how they
    served veterans, particularly VBA, because it's such a large
    organization. There were challenges with the Digital GI Bill,
    challenges with disability compensation backlogs and inventory
    with both the board and VBA, challenges with loan guaranty.
    There were a variety of challenges within VBA that I was
    looking at.
        Senator Murray. Well, let me ask you differently. What was
    your engagement with DOGE and the White House outside of the
    Presidential Personnel Office?
        Ms. Mason. I have no engagement with DOGE and the White
    House.
        Senator Murray. None. Zero?
        Ms. Mason. None. No contact. The only contact I had was a
    swearing in I attended. A swearing in for a person who has
    since, I guess, left the department in DOGE. That person I
    attended the VA swearing in. That was it.
        Senator Murray. Well, as you know, Congress has a
    responsibility to conduct oversight over the Office of
    Inspector General to make sure that they are properly
    conducting their role. So, it's really crucial, as you well
    know, that the OIG is transparent. If you are confirmed, will
    you provide us with a list of every ongoing OIG investigation
    within 30 days?
        Ms. Mason. Yes, Senator. I will do so.
        Senator Murray. Okay. The budget for VA proposed the
    elimination of ``unnecessary outreach activities''. From a
    congressional perspective, it is really critical to make sure
    that any canceled outreach doesn't impact veterans' ability to
    receive care that's necessary to provide.
        If confirmed, will you hold the department responsible for
    conducting all outreach that is in statute or policy, even if
    the political leadership, meaning your former boss, Secretary
    Collins, doesn't want to reach out to those groups.
        Ms. Mason. So, Senator Murray, I will look into all those
    situations, and I will see where there are statutorily
    required, and they will be held accountable under my watch as
    OIG, if confirmed.
        Senator Murray. Okay. Well, let me just ask this. Congress
    was very clear in 1978 when it passed the law governing
    inspectors general. The law states, and I want to quote it,
    ``Each Inspector General shall be appointed without regard to
    political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity.''
        Do you believe that an inspector general should be entirely
    independent from the administration in which they serve?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you for that question, Senator Murray. I
    do.
        Senator Murray. Well, you were a political appointee for
    President Trump in his first term. And as we said on your
    questionnaire, you said you continued to be an advisor to
    Secretary Collins after you were nominated for this. Do you
    believe that this demonstrates the kind of non-partisanship it
    takes to successfully execute this job?
        Ms. Mason. Well, Senator, I would refer to my years of
    experience in the department. I served 12 secretaries, 6 now, 7
    administrations. I am unique in that I was a careerist who
    became a political appointee during the Trump administration,
    but I served into the Biden administration, and President Biden
    appointed me to a position to ensure that the department was
    implementing the Executive orders from President Obama,
    President Trump, and President Biden on hiring veterans and
    military spouses.
        So, yes, I do believe I have that as a lawyer, and as a
    judge, and as chairman, which was an independent, impartial
    position.
        Senator Murray. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Hassan.

                       HON. MARGARET WOOD HASSAN,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

        Senator Hassan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And good
    afternoon. Congratulations to you and your family on your
    nomination. And just on a personal note, I'm really sorry for
    the toll that suicide has taken on your family.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you.
        Senator Hassan. And I'm grateful that you have been open
    about that. I think that openness helps a lot of people. I want
    to start by asking you a straightforward question that I ask
    all nominees. If directed by the President to take action that
    would break the law, would you follow the law or follow the
    President's directive?
        Ms. Mason. Senator Hassan, I appreciate that question, and
    I will follow the law as a lawyer.
        Senator Hassan. Thank you. Earlier this year, President
    Trump illegally fired the VA's Inspector General, along with
    several other inspectors general. Do you support the firing of
    inspectors general without the President first providing the
    required statutory notice to Congress?
        Ms. Mason. Well, thank you for that question. It would
    really be inappropriate for me to comment on that as that issue
    is currently being litigated in the courts.
        Senator Hassan. I will just comment that as a lawyer, as
    somebody who has prided herself in this testimony to us as on
    understanding, and investigating facts, and applying the law, I
    think you could venture to say that the President's firing of
    the Inspector General at the VA and across government violated
    the clear language of the statute. And I'm disappointed that
    you're unwilling to say that.
        Let me move on to another question, which really follows up
    on issues that both Senator Moran and Blumenthal have raised.
    You've served as a senior advisor to Secretary Collins since
    January, and you've worked at the VA for decades. The Inspector
    General is required to be, as you pointed out, nonpartisan and
    independent from agency leadership.
        However, your prior work advising Secretary Collins calls
    into question your ability to be nonpartisan and independent.
    If you become the IG, you would need to recuse yourself from
    many investigations in order to preserve the independence of
    the office. Will you recuse yourself from any investigations
    relating to matters you worked on while previously employed by
    the VA?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator Hassan. And yes, as an
    attorney, I would, as my duty and as a member of the bar, in
    certain situations, I would absolutely have to recuse myself. I
    did so as chairman, I did so as a veterans law judge in that
    world, and I would do so, as appropriate, as IG.
        Senator Hassan. Thank you. Will you commit to continuing
    any open investigations that were initiated by the last
    Inspector General?
        Ms. Mason. Yes, Senator, I will.
        Senator Hassan. Thank you. The VA is reportedly planning to
    fire roughly 80,000 employees. And recent reporting suggests
    that the VA is requiring all employees who are working on these
    staffing cuts to sign non-disclosure agreements. However, one
    key role of the Office of the Inspector General is to
    independently receive reports of wrongdoing within the VA from
    employees, and the Inspector General has this obligation,
    regardless of whether the employee has signed an NDA.
        Will you commit that your office will independently and
    thoroughly investigate any reports of wrongdoing at the VA
    regardless of any NDAs that employees have been forced to sign?
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator Hassan. And absolutely, yes,
    I will.
        Senator Hassan. Well, thank you. I'm glad to hear you're
    committed to conducting thorough independent reviews of any
    allegations of wrongdoing. And I yield the rest of my time.
        Chairman Moran. Thank you, Senator Hassan. Senator King.

                        HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR.,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE

        Senator King. I want to thank you for the time you took for
    us to discuss your history. You were imminently qualified for
    this position up to about January 2020. And I don't want to
    just keep going over and over, but, well, I guess one thing we
    learned yesterday that the Office of the Inspector General in
    the VA is being cut by 100 people. Were you aware of that?
        Ms. Mason. No, Senator, I was not.
        Senator King. Well, check the budget. You're going to lose
    100 people before you even walk through the door.
        Ms. Mason. I will definitely look into that sir.
        Senator King. To me, that doesn't indicate a great deal of
    respect and confidence in the job of the Inspector General. And
    the challenge that you have is having been a close advisor to
    the Secretary and then turning around and being Inspector
    General. That's what we've all been concerned about.
        And I think that's--Senator Blumenthal at the beginning
    said, basically, you have the burden of proof given this close
    relationship to the Secretary as an advisor for the past four
    months, through a pretty tumultuous time to convince us that
    you can turn around and have an objective, independent view of
    actions taken by the Secretary or by senior advisors.
        Give me a reason to vote for you here. I like you. I think
    you were very well qualified, but it's very unusual. The
    research I've done, it's very unusual for IGs to be appointed
    from within the agency that they're going to be an IG. The
    conflict of interest just sort of jumps out at you. And given
    your longtime association with the VA, you know the people, and
    your close association with the Secretary, convince me that you
    can be objective, and forthright, and tough, which is the job
    of the Inspector General.
        Ms. Mason. Well, Senator, I appreciate the opportunity and
    thank you for the question. Again, as we spoke yesterday, and
    as you know, I think it's very important to look at my
    background and my history. Yes, I came in the department as a
    senior advisor in January 2025. We are not disputing that. But
    again, my role as senior advisor, I think there's been some
    assumptions made. I was brought back at the request of the
    President. He asked me to return because of my 28 years in the
    department as an impartial, independent----
        Senator King. And if you were before this Committee as a
    deputy secretary or another role, I don't think we'd be asking
    these questions. You're coming into a very unusual job in our
    government and a very important job, and that's the difference.
    Do you see that?
        Ms. Mason. I understand----
        Senator King. You're not coming in as a policymaker.
        Ms. Mason. I understand that. And Senator, very little
    about my background and my experience is typical. I'm known for
    my unusualness. So, let me talk about that. I was brought back
    because of that independence and that background. And when I
    was asked to advise the Secretary on various things from that
    independent, impartial review, the Secretary was not looking
    for yes-people. The Secretary is looking for impartiality,
    independence of someone that can challenge conventional wisdom,
    do things differently. That's what I bring to it.
        So, from my time as chairman of the board, previously as a
    judge, I look at things independently and impartially, even
    stepping out of the role as a careerist into a political role
    during the Trump administration the first time, and walking
    into the role as chairman. That provided--that also met with--
    was fraught with concern, because again, I had to act
    independently. And I held people in the department at bay when
    they tried to infringe on actions of the board, and I will do
    the same as Inspector General.
        I'm known as a tough, honest broker. I put veterans first.
    I am about the veterans and the families of this country.
    That's who I serve, and that's who I've served for since I was
    20-some-years old.
        Senator King. Thank you. I appreciate that, and I
    appreciate your forthrightness. I'd like to suggest, if you're
    confirmed, the first investigation should be in these non-
    disclosure agreements. Number one, they lack the legally
    required language that's supposed to be in all government non-
    disclosure agreements that it does not apply to whistleblowers
    to the Inspector General. The one that has been circulated that
    we've seen in the department does not have that language. It
    requires that they report to Congress, but that's about it. In
    other words, it's an illegal non-disclosure agreement.
        The second question I hope you'll examine is why do you
    need a non-disclosure agreement for talking about a
    restructuring exercise? Non-disclosure agreements, in my
    experience, usually involve sensitive procurement information
    and national security. That's neither the case for how to
    reorganize the Veterans Administration. I hope that that's
    something that you might look at.
        I think the non-disclosure agreement that's been signed is
    illegal and unnecessary. And it certainly doesn't fill us with
    confidence that this is going to be carried out in an open,
    transparent, and thoughtful way with the engagement of this
    Committee and interested parties across the country. So, that
    is something I hope you'll take under advisement, as we say in
    the legal field.
        But I'm seriously concerned about it. There shouldn't be a
    non-disclosure agreement on something like how we're going to
    reorganize the department. And by the way, the department has
    not been forthcoming at all to this Committee about their plans
    and how this process of firing 80,000 people is going to be
    carried out.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you. I will take that under advisement.
    And I do believe that the Whistleblower Act and Accountability
    Act that was sponsored by Senator Blumenthal should be followed
    under the law.
        Senator King. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Mrs. Mason, Senator King used the phrase or
    the two words, ``close relationship with the Secretary.'' What
    is the relationship with the Secretary?
        Ms. Mason. I see the Secretary periodically. I would not
    call our relationship a close relationship. In fact, since the
    beginning of May I think the day or so after my nomination, I
    moved out of the Secretary's suite. I rarely see the Secretary.
    I wouldn't call any relationship I have with him or any other
    members of the political team a close relationship or a
    friendly relationship.
        Chairman Moran. And what does your word ``periodic'' mean?
        Ms. Mason. It means I might run into him if we happen to be
    in the building at the same time at breakfast, and he says hi,
    and I say hi.
        Senator King. Mr. Chairman, I wasn't going to bring this
    up, but since you did, yesterday when you left my office and
    you were walking with my staff member, you noted a Pepsi
    machine and a Coke machine. You said, ``I like Pepsi, but the
    Secretary's a Coke guy.''
        Ms. Mason. He is.
        Senator King. That sounds like a relationship to me.
        Ms. Mason. No. It was a conversation that was very early. I
    went into a meeting with diet Pepsi, and he had Coke, and he
    said, ``You know Ms. Mason, I prefer Coke.'' And I said, ``I
    prefer Pepsi. [Inaudible.] We're going to disagree to disagree.
        Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Hirono.

                         HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII

        Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Ms.
    Mason. I start with two basic questions that I ask of all
    nominees before any of the committees on which I sit that goes
    to the fitness to serve. So, I will ask you the following two
    questions. Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made
    unwanted requests for sexual favors, or committed any verbal or
    physical harassment, or assault of a sexual nature?
        Ms. Mason. Senator Hirono, it's nice to see you again. I
    appreciate the question. And no, I have not, but I have
    certainly been the subject of them.
        [Inaudible.]
        Senator Hirono. Have you ever faced discipline or entered
    into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?
        Ms. Mason. No, I have not, Senator. Thank you.
        Senator Hirono. It's very clear that our IGs have to be
    very independent, and you noted that it is important that IGs
    be impartial and independent. You said that in the beginning
    part of your testimony. And there are serious concerns, and I
    would say, legitimate concerns, about whether you will be able
    to be independent and impartial because you are--after that you
    were a senior advisor to Secretary Collins.
        Now, you testified today that you had nothing to do with
    the very controversial firings and the potential firing of
    another 80,000-plus employees at the VA. But here you are, you
    sit as a senior advisor and as an attorney, did you ever raise
    the concern with the Secretary that maybe what he was doing was
    illegal?
        Ms. Mason. Well, Senator, I appreciate that question, and
    as a senior advisor, what I can tell you about my client is
    there's privilege. And so, anything I advise the Secretary----
        Senator Hirono. Well, excuse me----
        Ms. Mason [continuing]. Stays between me and the Secretary.
        Senator Hirono [continuing]. You testified--you know, you
    opened the door. You testified that you had nothing to do with
    the firings and the potential firing of 83,000 more people. And
    I'm just asking that as senior advisor, did you consider it
    your responsibility to raise the potential that what he was
    doing was illegal?
        Ms. Mason. Senator----
        Senator Hirono [continuing]. Just answer yes or no. I'm not
    asking for any other kind of content.
        Ms. Mason. Senator, I didn't----
        Senator Hirono [continuing]. In your discussions.
        Ms. Mason [continuing]. Know about them until after the
    fact. So, no, I did not.
        Senator Hirono. See, that is why you're being asked all
    these questions because as senior advisor, one would think that
    maybe something as big as the kind of controversial firings
    that Secretary Collins engaged in would come to your attention
    and you would say something about it. And so, I think that is
    one of the reasons that The Washington Post, Wednesday, May
    28th, they included you in an article, in a list of Trump
    administration nominees who have, to quote The Washington Post,
    ``clearly partisan backgrounds.'' That is not what we need or
    want in an IG.
        It's bad enough that President Trump fired a whole group of
    IGs illegally, but his modus operandi says why did he do that?
    Because he doesn't want IGs that are independent. And so, you
    step into a role where these kinds of questions are going to
    come up. It is very clear that this President likes people that
    he can count on, that he thinks will be loyal to him, that he
    thinks will do his bidding. That is his modus operandi.
        And here you come telling us that you're going to be
    impartial and independent, and were it not for the fact that
    you serve as senior advisor. And even when you are nominated to
    this position, you did not see fit to resign give a little
    space between your role as senior advisor to an to an agency
    that you're going to--you're supposed to be investigating
    independently. That would help, but you didn't do that. And
    that is why, you know, I think that these questions that we
    have about your independence in view of why President Trump
    fires everybody and gets rid of everybody who can even stand up
    to him, we have these concerns. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Senator, thank you. Senator Duckworth.

                         HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS

        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Ms.
    Mason. I think we served in the building at the same time, at
    one point.
        Ms. Mason. Yes, we did, ma'am.
        Senator Duckworth. So, I know exactly what the inner
    sanctum of the Secretary's office looks like. And if you're
    behind those doors, you're in the inner sanctum. You're not
    just floating out there. So, you probably saw him a lot more
    than you are trying to lead us to believe.
        I just want to follow up on your answer to Senator Hirono.
    Are you invoking attorney-client privilege and not responding
    to her question?
        Ms. Mason. No, I simply--thank you for the question,
    Senator Duckworth, and it is a pleasure to see you again. No,
    I'm not. I'm simply saying that there are situations that I may
    have advised the Secretary and that wouldn't be appropriate for
    me to talk about. This question she asked me was a question
    that I could answer, that I was not engaged and involved with
    and it was not my place to offer my opinion in that situation.
        Senator Duckworth. Did you advise the Secretary on setting
    the 80,000 goal for firing VA employees?
        Ms. Mason. No, Senator Duckworth. Thank you. I was not
    involved in that decision.
        Senator Duckworth. Congress established offices of
    Inspector General in 1978 to, ``create independent objective
    units within agencies.'' So, I'm going to follow continuing on
    the questioning line that my colleagues have already started.
    But critics have questioned whether a Federal agency IG can
    truly be ``independent'' if these officials can be fired by a
    President who leads the administration and IG is tasked to
    oversee.
        Now, to be fair, Congress has recognized the weakness of
    allowing a President to silence an IG who might uncover
    problems that an administration would prefer to sweep under the
    rug. In fact, 30 years after the passage of the original IG
    Act, Congress amended the law to enhance transparency and
    oversight over potential IG firings.
        Ms. Mason, can you please remind our Committee of what
    Congress did in passing Section 3 of the IG Reform Act of 2008?
        Ms. Mason. Let me see if I remember that one.
        Senator Duckworth. Would you like a copy of it? I can give
    you a copy.
        Ms. Mason. That would be wonderful, ma'am.
        Senator Duckworth. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to
    provide the witness with a copy of the Act.
        Chairman Moran. Without objection.

        [The information referred to appears on page 147 of the
    Appendix.]

        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator Duckworth. And I do remember
    reading this now. Yes, I think it's really important to note
    that 2008 was where the Congress put in some protections about
    the 30-day notice and some other areas that asked the President
    to do so before removing an IG.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Ms. Mason. So, I raised the
    question issue of IG independence because the unfortunate
    reality is this; your nomination is only possible because
    President Trump fired without a cause or explanation, let alone
    the 30-day advance notice as required by law, the Honorable
    Michael Missal who had effectively served as VA IG since 2016.
        Ms. Mason, did President Trump violate Federal law when he
    indiscriminately fired IG Missal and failed to provide Congress
    with a written notice at least 30 days in advance of the
    removal of his and intent to fire the independent and
    nonpartisan VA Inspector General?
        Ms. Mason. Well, Senator Duckworth, I appreciate that
    question. And again, that issue is currently before the courts,
    and I would have to defer to the courts and the judge to make
    that decision. And after they make that decision, I will be
    happy to answer the question.
        Senator Duckworth. Then I will come back to you.
        Ms. Moran. Okay.
        Senator Duckworth. It's a simple question. As we discussed,
    the law is clear. It requires written notification to Congress,
    and it mandates that such notice be delivered at least 30 days
    in advance. Look, a key reason that Congress established the IG
    Law was to help ensure any given Presidential administration
    complies with the law, and I am deeply troubled that you are
    unwilling to simply identify President Trump's textbook
    violation of the law. And your nomination was literally made
    possible because President Trump committed that textbook
    violation of the law when he fired IG Missal so that he could
    appoint his own hand-picked appointee, you.
        IGs must be willing to speak truth to power. So, let's try
    a far simpler yes or no question. Ms. Mason, did President Joe
    Biden win the 2020 Presidential election?
        Ms. Mason. The 2020 Presidential election? I believe he
    did, yes.
        Senator Duckworth. Okay. Thank you. And if given an illegal
    and unconstitutional order by either the Secretary of Veterans
    Affairs or President Trump what would your actions be?
        Ms. Mason. I will always follow the law, Senator Duckworth,
    just as I did as chairman with the same President in office, as
    well as with President Biden in office.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Duckworth, thank you. I don't
    anticipate--I don't intend to have a second round of
    questioning, but I want to give the leeway to the Ranking
    Member who has a question to follow-up, and then I'll ask you,
    Ms. Mason, if you have anything you want to conclude your--
    anything you would like to try to correct, or I'm not
    suggesting you need to correct anything, anything you'd wish to
    have said before we ask Mr. Bergin to the table.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to
    put into the record two articles; one from Government Executive
    entitled, ``VA forces staff and work workforce reduction
    discussions to sign non-disclosure agreements.'' Another from
    The New York Times, ``Fired Inspectors General Raise Alarms as
    Trump Administration Moves to Finalize Purge,'' and then a
    letter that I did to the Council of the Inspectors General on
    Integrity and Efficiency.
        Chairman Moran. Without objection.

        [The information referred to begins on page 148 of the
    Appendix.]

        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. Let me ask you. Have you
    been involved in the termination or firing of any employee of
    the Veterans Administration?
        Ms. Mason. Since taking office in 2025, I have not. Prior
    to that as Chairman, yes.
        Senator Blumenthal. In other words, since taking your
    present position, you have not been involved in any termination
    or firing of any single or any employee whatsoever?
        Ms. Mason. No, Senator Blumenthal, I have not.
        Senator Blumenthal. How about in the cancellation of any
    contract?
        Ms. Mason. I have not been involved in any cancellations of
    any contract, Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. Prior to this role, you served on the
    President's transition team?
        Ms. Mason. I did, yes.
        Senator Blumenthal. And what was the subject matter?
        Ms. Mason. The subject matter was the Department of
    Veterans Affairs.
        Senator Blumenthal. Department of Veterans Affairs?
        Ms. Mason. Yes.
        Senator Blumenthal. So, your involvement in the Department
    of Veterans Affairs predated your present position?
        Ms. Mason. My involvement with the Department of Veterans
    Affairs goes all the way back to 1990, Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, I mean as part of the Trump
    administration.
        Ms. Mason. Well, as part of----
        Senator Blumenthal. When did you begin your service on the
    transition team?
        Ms. Mason. I believe it was the end of November 2024. I
    would have to check that.
        Senator Blumenthal. November 2024. So, for whatever number
    of months it is, you've been involved in reviewing, and
    advising, and proposing policies. You've been involved in the
    workings of the Veterans Affairs Administration.
        Ms. Mason. Senator Blumenthal, thank you for the question.
    Let me clarify. As a member of the transition team, my role was
    to speak with the careerists, who were currently in office,
    including Secretary McDonough who were leaving office and find
    out what they were doing. So, I was part of what they would
    call the landing team. So, my role was simply to look at that--
    and ask questions about how they were operating at the time, to
    get that information so we would be ready to start out Day 1.
        Senator Blumenthal. Could you give me three decisions or
    actions by the Department of Veterans Affairs since the
    inaugural that you've been involved in doing?
        Ms. Mason. Well, Senator Blumenthal, as a senior advisor,
    I'm not involved in any decisions. That's not my role.
        Senator Blumenthal. No. I'm asking you whether you've been
    involved in them as an advisor. Three decisions or actions
    where you've served as an advisor?
        Ms. Mason. I cannot. My role was to gather information and
    convey that information back and forth.
        Senator Blumenthal. I can't believe that you are telling us
    that you haven't been involved in a single action or decision
    as an advisor.
        Ms. Mason. I don't have the authority to, sir. My only role
    is to recommend, gather information, convey information, and
    recommend to different parties.
        Senator Blumenthal. I consider your answers just--well,
    thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal.
        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, anything you'd like to add to
    the record before we call up Mr. Bergin?
        Ms. Mason. Yes, Chairman Moran, a couple of things. So,
    Senator Hirono brought up the concern about me not stepping out
    of my role. I did step out of my role as senior advisor to the
    Secretary shortly after it was announced, and I also moved out
    of the suite, the Secretary's suite as Senator Duckworth noted.
    And I thought it was very important that I do so.
        Again, you can't just look at me as my role since January
    2025. And yes, again, I understand Senator Blumenthal's concern
    about the perception and assumption of senior advisor. But my
    role as senior advisor, my role, just me, Cheryl Mason, was to
    come in and bring the knowledge that I have, my many years of
    service as an independent, impartial player at the Board of
    Veterans Appeals, 28 years in that role, and making decisions
    for veterans, serving veterans, and to look at what the
    department was doing, particularly within VBA, the Board of
    Veterans Appeals, primarily, and to ensure that we were doing
    our best to serve veterans on education, all lines of business
    in BVA.
        I understand that it might be incredulous that I wasn't
    involved in decisions, but that wasn't my role. My role was to
    advise and to recommend. Whether the Secretary or other leaders
    followed my advice is up to them, much like as I did as a
    consultant, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.
        So, I appreciate it. Thank you, and I am happy to meet with
    anybody after the hearing, and I look forward to your post-
    hearing questions. Thank you.
        Chairman Moran. Ms. Mason, thank you very much. And thanks,
    we welcome your family here with you today as well.
        Ms. Mason. Thank you.
        Chairman Moran. Mr. Bergin, would you please join us at the
    table? Maybe before you sit down, Mr. Bergin, I'll have you
    stand up.
        Mr. Bergin, before being recognized for your opening
    statement, please stand and raise your right hand and repeat
    after me, if you will. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the
    testimony you're about to give before the United States Senate
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs will be the truth, the whole
    truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
        Mr. Bergin. I do.
        Chairman Moran. Thank you. Mr. Bergin, you are now
    recognized for your statement. Welcome to the Committee, and if
    you have family and others you want to introduce, please do so.
        Mr. Bergin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

                                PANEL II

                               ----------

    STATEMENT OF DON BERGIN, NOMINEE TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
       CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
                            VETERANS AFFAIRS

        Mr. Bergin. Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal,
    distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the
    opportunity to appear before you today. I'm deeply honored by
    the confidence President Trump and Secretary Collins have
    placed in me to be considered for the position of Assistant
    Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the
    Department of Veteran Affairs.
        Although he had to step away to meet with the President, I
    would like to thank Senator Cornyn for his kind introduction
    for inclusion in the record. It was an honor to serve alongside
    a living model of leadership and public service. Senator Cornyn
    and Sandy are truly the best of Texas.
        Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife,
    Grace, whose unwavering support has made it possible for me to
    serve in this role. I also want to thank my mother, Nancy, who
    served a quarter century as a military spouse, raising three
    children with strength and resilience, instilling in me the
    values that guide my public service today.
        The veteran community is my community. I view veterans the
    same way many of you view constituents in your respective
    states. I was born into the Army, just up the street from here
    at Walter Reed Hospital, the son of a West Point graduate. I
    was raised among veterans from the Vietnam War. From an early
    age, I witnessed firsthand the stigmas and challenges faced in
    the community and in seeking care from the VA, struggling with
    limited access to mental health support, archaic prosthetic
    services, and a system that often failed to meet their needs.
    Their resilience shaped my understanding of duty, sacrifice,
    and the lasting impacts of war.
        My family legacy of service runs deep. Both of my
    grandfathers served in World War II, one in the Army, and the
    other is a B-17 navigator, flying the infamous bombing mission,
    missions over Germany. My father spent nearly 25 years in the
    Army retiring as a colonel. He's buried at West Point. My
    sister is a VA physician. My wife, Grace, is a Federal
    employee.
        As a military brat, I experienced the sacrifices service
    members and their families make moving every few years, making
    and losing friends, and constantly adapting. Profoundly
    impacted by the September 11th attacks, I immediately walked
    into the Marine Corps recruiting office. I was honored to join
    the first class following 9/11 a diverse group of Americans
    from Wall Street to Main Street, united by shared commitment to
    our country.
        As an infantry commander, I deployed with the 1st Marine
    Division during the invasion of Iraq, where my unit helped tear
    down the statue of Saddam Hussein. I later served two
    consecutive combat deployments in Fallujah, and I was
    privileged to stand with my fellow Marines whose courage and
    sacrifice will always stay with me.
        Again, the veteran community is my community. I began my
    service in Congress nearly 20 years ago in the Marine Corps
    Office of Legislative Affairs, gaining firsthand experience in
    how critical congressional engagement is to advance the
    interest of our service members and veterans. I went on to
    serve in personal offices, on congressional committees, and
    ultimately in Senate leadership as a National Security Council
    to the Senate Majority Whip, Senator Cornyn.
        Throughout these roles, I witnessed the undeniable truth
    that when Congress and VA work together under a common purpose,
    we can deliver real lasting results for the veteran community
    and their families. Just reference the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the
    MISSION Act, the PACT Act, and Elizabeth Dole Act to name a
    few. That collaboration must be honest, bipartisan, and always
    focused on the needs of those who have served.
        This experience has prepared me to immediately strengthen
    that partnership and ensure the voices of veterans remain at
    the center of every policy and legislative decision. That
    perspective is deeply personal for me. As a patient of the VA,
    I've witnessed the agency's transformation firsthand from the
    struggles of the Vietnam era to the advancements made for the
    OIF and OEF generations. That progress in mental health care
    and prosthetic technology has been remarkable, but there's
    still more work to do.
        In recognition of veterans' extraordinary service, Congress
    has committed vast resources to honor the Nation's promise to
    them. We have a shared duty to ensure those resources are used
    efficiently, effectively, and directly to improve veterans care
    and benefits. When the Secretary asked me to take on this role,
    I did not hesitate. It offers a rare opportunity to unite my
    experiences from the kitchen table to the battlefield, and to
    Congress, to strengthen this critical partnership and ensure
    the voices of veterans are at the heart of every legislative
    conversation.
        If confirmed, I'll be a tireless advocate for veterans
    committed to working hand in hand with Congress in a spirit of
    cooperation and shared purpose. Together, we can fulfill
    President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have borne
    the battle. I'll measure every action by a simple standard; am
    I delivering meaningful results and real accountability for
    members of my community who sacrifice so much for this country?
        Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your
    questions.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Bergin appears on page 115
    of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Moran. Mr. Bergin, thank you for your statement.
    Thank you for your service to our Nation, and we welcome your
    family members who have joined you here today. I thank them for
    their support of your service to the country.
        Mr. Bergin, for nearly 30 years, I've been a member of
    either the House or the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
    I cannot recall a time in which I thought that the legislative
    affairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs was as helpful to
    me as a House member or as a Senator, but more importantly to
    my constituents. I can't recall the time in which I thought,
    ``Wow, this is really a good job being done.''
        We had a bit of this conversation in my office, and every--
    as I became a leader of the Veterans' committees, I had more
    opportunity to have conversations and hearings with those who
    were assigned the task of improving service to Members of
    Congress, service to the committees, but most importantly, our
    efforts to make sure that veterans who are need our help are
    getting our help.
        So, if confirmed, what actions would you take early on?
    What's the first steps you would take in your tenure to improve
    the quality and timeliness of VA's communication with Congress,
    instill greater accountability within the Office of
    Congressional and Legislative Affairs, and set the stage for
    better working relationship between the VA and this Committee?
    How would you measure that success?
        Mr. Bergin. Thank you for that question, Mr. Chairman.
    First of all, I'd like to start with one of the central tenets
    I learned in the Marine Corps was the qualities of leadership
    aren't taking on roles and missions because they're easy, you
    take them on because they're worthwhile. That's why I'm here.
        As was pointed out, and I'm sure will not come up in future
    questions, I have been working as a senior advisor to the
    Secretary since April. And in that role, and the reason why the
    Secretary brought me on is because he realized a lot of the
    issues that had been raised here, a lot of the challenges, a
    lot of the feedback, and he even experienced that as a
    Congressman over in the House.
        And I will say to that end as well, as a staffer who's
    worked--I'm looking at the back row of there, but I've spent
    some time over there, and Senator Blumenthal, I'd like to
    compliment you for hiring a fellow Tar Heel. I've spent time
    back there, and I know the frustrations of the challenges of
    actually getting responses back from nearly every agency in
    government.
        I can't commit to you that it will be perfect, but I can
    sincerely commit to you that I'll use the experience that I
    have both in leadership and in working in Congress to get that
    done. And to that effect, in my current role, I've spent time
    making recommendations on the way the office should be
    organized as far as actual personnel, personnel roles, and
    then, also on processes.
        I had the good fortune of working in the Marine Corps
    Office of Legislative Affairs, and I sincerely appreciate the
    leadership of the Marines that I served with over there. I
    think they built a good model, and I'm trying to take away from
    that model the experiences that I have that I thought were
    valuable. And then add on top of that, the other experiences
    that I've had while working in Congress.
        So, to that end, first of all, what was most striking to me
    when I started was the dearth of what we call Congressional
    Relations Officers here, both in the Senate and in the House.
    We're pretty short-staffed on that end, and I find it very
    challenging to be able to accomplish this role without having
    those assets out there; the people that are knowledgeable, both
    of your offices and your issues, being able to provide that
    candid feedback to the office of OCLA and to the Secretary.
        So, I've made recommendations that we staff up in those
    positions. And I've also made recommendations, internal, to
    processes as far as trying to respond to the Committee in a
    timely and useful manner, like providing you relevant
    information that's actually substantive to your request.
    Because my experience has been when you don't answer questions,
    you tend to get more questions, you also tend to get more
    hearings. And I don't know that that's what anyone wants here
    on the Committee, and I certainly respect your time. So, if
    confirmed, sir, I will continue to work on that and implement
    some of the recommendations that I've already made.
        Chairman Moran. Mr. Bergin, thank you for your answer. And
    I appreciate that it's a difficult task getting timely answers
    from any department or any agency almost without exception. And
    I don't know what the exception is, but I want to give somebody
    the benefit of the doubt in case there is one.
        But I do want to highlight that this is not an ego kind of
    thing because when the Department of Veterans Affairs fails to
    respond to us, this Committee, the Members of this Committee,
    the Members of the Senate, it further jeopardizes the life and
    well-being of veterans across the country.
        And I've said this so many times, mostly what I know about
    what is veterans are encountering is because they'll stop me on
    the street, they'll send me an email, they'll tell me the
    story, and that begins the process by which we try to solve
    problems, sometimes individually. And sometimes those
    individual problems then lend itself to us figuring out how do
    we solve problems for more than just a veteran, but veterans
    across the country.
        And so, your job, if confirmed, is hugely important. I
    mean, you indicate, and I believe you, that you're doing this
    for the--by motivation of wanting to care for your fellow
    veterans. This is a task that needs the attention, not because
    you want to make Members of this Committee happy, but because
    if you provide the information, perhaps we, along with many
    others, can serve those veterans and make their life longer,
    healthier, and the benefits they need to care for themselves,
    their education, their family.
        It's different than just the usual complaint that I suppose
    Members of Congress might have about an agency that doesn't
    respond and doesn't function well. The functioning of what you
    do can be a life-or-death circumstance for those we all serve
    and all care about. Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I will say
    I agree with everything that you have articulated so well just
    now, and I think it summarizes a lot of the role of our
    Committee, and all of us as Members of the United States
    Senate.
        Let me just come right to the point. First of all, thank
    you for your service. Thank you to your family, for their
    service, and thank you for your willingness to serve in this
    position. You've been senior advisor at the VA since April,
    correct?
        Mr. Bergin. Correct.
        Senator Blumenthal. And during that time, the VA has
    engaged in systematic denial of facts, stonewalling of this
    Committee in an unprecedented way. And it's been, frankly,
    bipartisan, both sides, inquiries in effect, either ignored or
    blown off. The few answers we get are mostly boilerplate, non-
    responsive repetitions of talking points that failed to address
    basic questions.
        It's been true of Secretary Collins testimony, but also the
    responses that we've received, for example, about the VA's DOGE
    team, what they do, who they are, what they're working on.
    We've asked by email, and we've asked in hearings, Senator King
    has sent a letter, and then more than a dozen colleagues join
    me in sending subsequent letter requesting information
    briefing.
        We've asked about contracts, and the response has been
    either to give us inaccurate information, which was
    acknowledged to be inaccurate, or telling us that you, ``will
    not be providing a briefing on this issue.'' How do you explain
    this abject failure on the part of the VA?
        Mr. Bergin. Senator, first, I want to make sure I clarify
    that I personally did not say that I would not provide a
    briefing and I want to make sure that that's not the case. And
    I cannot speak to all the decisions that have been made, sir,
    but what I can tell you is I also recognize the challenges that
    the Secretary has taken on in his role. And I think as everyone
    in this room can attest, the Department of Veterans Affairs is
    not a flawless organization, but it is a very large
    organization----
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, let me just ask the question
    again, and I apologize if I implied that you told us that you
    would not be providing the briefing, the department told us you
    have been an advisor in the office that was supposed to be
    responding. Have you been involved in any of the answers to any
    individuals on this Committee or the Committee itself?
        Mr. Bergin. No, sir.
        Senator Blumenthal. You've had no involvement?
        Mr. Bergin. I have not.
        Senator Blumenthal. What have you been doing?
        Mr. Bergin. I've been working on organizing the Office of
    Congressional Legislative Affairs in a way that if I'm
    confirmed, sir, it will be ready to be more responsive. And I
    would say, I think if you go back and you look at least at the
    timeliness of responses that we have been working to some
    degree to be able to provide those, I've not been involved in
    the substance or----
        Senator Blumenthal. Part of the answer that you've just
    given me, and I apologize for interrupting, because my time is
    going to expire shortly, you just said you've been working in
    restructuring the office so it would be ``more responsive.''
        Mr. Bergin. Correct, sir.
        Senator Blumenthal. I'm going to view that in the most
    positive light and say, my conclusion is that you would join me
    in feeling that the office has been unresponsive so far. But
    you don't have to agree with me or not. The record shows it has
    been abjectly unresponsive. And to the extent you've been
    involved as an advisor, and you've known of our
    dissatisfaction, and you're going to be taking over, I am
    troubled that you haven't said to the Secretary, ``Secretary
    Collins, we got to do something here because we're not
    answering these valid requests for information.'' Did you ever
    go to him and say that?
        Mr. Bergin. Senator, I'm very sensitive to the concerns
    that you've expressed and appreciate them very much. I have had
    conversations with the Secretary about our ability to respond
    promptly and substantively. That is his intent, is to be able
    to get there. The challenges are that the size of the
    organization takes some time to be able to get there.
        And I think everyone would agree that the policy positions
    of the previous administration and the current administration
    are fairly vast. So, turning around on a dime for those
    policies is a challenge that we are working on addressing. So,
    getting the voice and the vernacular correct in the way we
    respond is something that's a work in progress.
        Senator Blumenthal. My time has expired. Thank you, sir.
        Chairman Moran. Senator King.
        Senator King. First, I should say that you're having been
    an advisor before now I consider a qualification as opposed to
    the last witness. The fact that you've been involved in the
    inner workings, you know what the problems are. Your record is
    really impressive, and I want to acknowledge that, going back
    to your enlistment, and anyone that was at Fallujah deserves
    our respect and thanks.
        Senator King. I intend to----
        Chairman Moran. Senator King, would you pull the microphone
    closer----
        Senator King. I'm sorry----
        Chairman Moran. I can't hear and I want to hear more.
        [Laughter.)
        Senator King. That's a first. I hope that gets in the
    record.
        I'm going to support your nomination because you strike me
    as a straightforward guy who's going to do his best. And I
    think you have your work cut out for you. The department thus
    far has not been forthcoming, has not been responsive, and
    Senator Blumenthal sort of went down the list.
        And I hope that the way you're going to approach this is,
    ``Hey, this is our board of directors up there. We better
    listen to them, and we better give them the facts,'' and that
    is that your approach; that you view your job as conveying to
    us the factual information about the conduct of the department,
    and the positions of the department, and the intentions of the
    department. Is that a fair description of your job description?
        Mr. Bergin. It's a fair description, and it's unfortunate
    that the chairman just stepped out. But to the same point,
    Senator, I am very conscious of the fact that I will not make
    everyone in this room happy. But the necessary part of this
    role in particular is that we have the discussions, we convey
    the information, and where we disagree, we have that
    disagreement and it's an open discussion.
        Senator King. Well, I have no problem with being unhappy
    with the content. What makes me unhappy is when I'm not--my
    questions aren't answered and I don't get the information. We
    can differ over the policies, but the important thing is that
    we have the information.
        A perfect example is this reorganization. I don't
    understand why this has to be treated as a national security
    matter with non-disclosure agreements and not informing the
    Committee--a major reorganization that involves the firing of
    80,000 people is of concern to this Committee. And I think we
    ought to have an open dialogue with the department about how
    it's being approached. What's the plan? Who's going to be
    making the decisions, what's the timeline? To me, it undermines
    our confidence when we don't get the information.
        Another example is the contracts. We started looking for
    those contracts when the Secretary announced 585 contracts
    canceled, I think it was on March 4th. We've been asking, and
    asking, and asking, and the fact that we haven't gotten a
    straight answer to that question means we're suspicious. What
    are we not being told? What's in those contracts that the
    Secretary doesn't want us to know about?
        And so, you can go a long way, and I hope you'll really be
    strong and say, ``Look, this is in the interest of you, Mr.
    Secretary, and the department, to rebuild the confidence of the
    Committee.'' This is a generally bipartisan Committee, all
    committed to veterans. And I think you're in an excellent
    position. You have a great record to be a really valuable
    interface between us and the department, but you have your work
    cut out for you.
        Mr. Bergin. Well, Senator, thank you. First of all, thank
    you for your personal comments. I appreciate those. I can tell
    you for your questions, in particular on contracts, Senator,
    that the Secretary did come back to me, and he expressed
    frustration about the fact that we haven't provided you that
    information, and he wanted to be able to have that open
    discussion.
        Because at the heart of it, and I do believe this, Senator,
    and I wouldn't be here if I didn't, the Secretary does want to
    get resources directly to veterans and the effort that he is
    leading, which is a humongous challenge, I think everyone here
    would acknowledge, is a large undertaking with many challenges.
        And part of those challenges, particularly when it comes to
    personnel and when it comes to contracts are there's very
    extensive deliberations involved in that, that make it very
    challenging when you're in the middle of those deliberations,
    to include court involvement as well, sir. So, the challenge
    has been getting organized in a way where we can provide you
    that information, it be deliberative, and it actually represent
    the policies of both the Secretary and the administration.
        Senator King. Well, there's a tension between preliminary,
    and predecisional, and final, and you don't get any input. And
    there's some space in between there where we should be engaged.
    And it doesn't have to be the earliest part of the discussion,
    but it may be before the final decisions are made and we're
    presented with a fait accompli.
        My problem is that there's a wise old man once said, ``What
    you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'' And the
    Secretary comes before this Committee and repeats over and over
    how he's all for veterans. But what's being done, both in terms
    of the proposed firing of 80,000 people, and the lack of
    transparency to us about that program, and about the contracts,
    speaks louder than that language about, ``We're all in this for
    the veterans.''
        We all are in for the veterans, but I'm interested in what
    you're going to do, not what you're going to say. Thank you,
    Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Bergin. Thank you, sir.
        Chairman Moran. Senator Hirono.
        Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Mr.
    Bergin. I will start with the fitness to serve initial
    questions that I asked Ms. Mason. Since you became a legal
    adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors
    or committed any verbal, or physical harassment, or assault of
    a sexual nature?
        Mr. Bergin. No.
        Senator Hirono. Have you ever faced discipline or entered
    into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?
        Mr. Bergin. No.
        Senator Hirono. So, Mr. Bergin, having served in several
    congressional offices, being a veteran, if your office is
    anything like mine, a lot of the constituent services requests
    come from veterans. Did you find that to be the case in your
    service for the congressional offices?
        Mr. Bergin. Absolutely. I mean, it's my observation that
    it's actually the primary outlet. And one of the reasons why
    this relationship is so valuable is that you represent the
    veterans in your state. So, you're a tremendous resource for us
    to work together.
        Senator Hirono. So, I would think that you would consider
    our ability to respond to veterans to call our offices for
    help, that that would be a priority for you to make sure that
    the VA responds and provides the kind of information that the
    veteran is looking for. And a lot of times, it's things like,
    you know, with the ratings and all of that. And I think you
    understand the need to get back to them with these kinds of
    answers.
        Mr. Bergin. Absolutely. And just anecdotally, when I was
    first nominated for this position, I think I officially became
    a congressional office because I received at least 20 calls
    from veterans asking me about things that were going on in
    their requests as well.
        Senator Hirono. So, I hope that you can make a commitment
    to us that it will be a high priority for you to respond to
    congressional offices' inquiries on behalf of veterans.
        Mr. Bergin. Absolutely.
        Senator Hirono. And the reality is, though, that things are
    pretty chaotic within the VA. You know, that the word chaos
    comes to mind. You have firings, you have canceling of
    contracts, et cetera, et cetera. And in order to respond to our
    inquiries on behalf of veterans, you need people to respond to
    them. And so, I would hope that you're going to do whatever
    you're going to do to get the workers back, because when you
    start talking about another 80,000 or so more people being
    fired, that is not reassuring regarding a commitment to making
    sure that constituent services for veterans will be a high
    priority. It's a problem. Don't you think it's a challenge?
        Mr. Bergin. It's a big challenge. I agree.
        Senator Hirono. And you acknowledge that the VA is a huge
    agency. And in fact, it is the largest healthcare system in the
    entire country. You have to deal with homelessness, suicides,
    all the things that your--a prior Secretary says, ``put at the
    top of the list.'' But from where I sit--and in fact I have
    been told by my staff as they try to help veterans with their
    questions, that they don't even get an acknowledgement that the
    VA has received their inquiry.
        I hope that that is something that you will fix. Because if
    we don't even know whether the VA has gotten our inquiry, it's
    like we're just sitting there going, ``What the hell?'' So,
    will you at least implement, ``Yes, we got your inquiry. We're
    working on it.'' That would help.
        Mr. Bergin. I think that's a fair standard operating
    procedure. And to that point, and just real quickly, we have
    two to three staff that do constituent services across all of
    Congress. That's not enough, and we're working on filling those
    positions so that we can be more responsive.
        Senator Hirono. And already we are seeing delays. And not
    only do we not get an acknowledgement that VA got our inquiry,
    but there is a delay now in getting answers. You know, and
    really with the veterans, I don't need to lecture you on the
    importance of making sure that the veterans who served our
    country, that they get responses. It's very frustrating. We
    hear from so many of them who've said, ``I've been waiting
    months,'' and you sound like the kind of person who will give a
    rip about those kinds of instances and you would want to fix
    it.
        Mr. Bergin. I will.
        Senator Hirono. Okay. Well, a positive kind of an attitude.
    I like that, and frankly should you get confirmed. I look
    forward to the kind of changes that will be happening so that
    we can get responses, we can help our veterans, they can get
    answers, they can get delayed payments, et cetera, et cetera,
    because you've been there.
        Mr. Bergin. If confirmed.
        Senator King. Maybe he can get some of those 100 people cut
    from the OIG's office.
        Senator Blumenthal. Maybe when you add to your staff, you
    can hire back some of the veterans who've been fired.
        Mr. Bergin. We have several veterans on our staff. And
    while we're here, sir, I'd like to recognize, although we've
    been saying that we are understaffed, and there have been
    challenges in the office, what I have found since I've been
    there since April is, the team that is there is almost entirely
    veteran, is extremely diverse and highly qualified, and have
    been working their tails off many over and through the weekend
    to get this done. And I know that that doesn't look
    satisfactory on your end, but I want to make sure that I
    recognize the hard work that people are doing in this
    environment.
        Senator Blumenthal. And I want to be clear----
        Chairman Moran. Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Blumenthal. I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I
    want to be clear that nothing I have said now or at any time in
    the past is to impugn in any way the work ethic of the VA
    workforce. And I am pleased to hear that you think that your
    office should be more responsive. The responsibility for the
    evasive and inadequate responses, I put squarely on Secretary
    Collins.
        Mr. Bergin. Senator, to that point, Secretary Collins is
    also frustrated, and he's depending on people like myself, if
    confirmed, and the other leaders in the organization who,
    rightfully, this Committee is putting pressure on to fill those
    leadership roles and to get the job done as the Senator from
    Hawaii pointed out to serve those veterans.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Moran. Mr. Bergin, and I have just a follow-up and
    then we'll conclude the hearing. While I've highlighted the
    importance of communications, and timeliness, and response, I
    also want to ask for your help, if confirmed, in one other
    arena, although there'll be dozens more than the two I will
    mention today.
        We also need to make sure that the Department of Veterans
    Affairs follows the letter of the law, follows congressional
    intent. And I hope that you and your position, if confirmed,
    would be the voice for making certain that the intentions of
    this Committee and the legislation that is passed by Congress
    is something that the Department of Veterans Affairs
    implements, interprets, and proceeds in the manner in which the
    law says. And in the absence of a clear understanding that of
    what those words mean that you convey to those who are
    implementing legislation passed the intent of Congress, does
    your role include that and are you willing to do so?
        Mr. Bergin. Absolutely, Mr. Chairman. And I have to say, I
    do not think that I will be put in that position, but as we
    started off this panel, I've raised my right hand for an oath
    to the Constitution many times in my career, and I intend to
    die holding true to that commitment. So, I will follow the law.
        Chairman Moran. Thank you. And I guess the additional part
    of that response is that you will encourage and that the
    Department of Veterans Affairs also does so.
        Mr. Bergin. Yes, sir.
        Chairman Moran. Anyone? Okay. Mr. Bergin, there appears to
    be no other questions, and I thank you for your testimony and
    your time spent with us. Again, I thank you for your service,
    your family's commitment to your service, your family's
    service.
        If any Member of this Committee would like to send
    questions for the record to either one of the nominees, they
    should do so as soon as possible and no later than the close of
    business tomorrow. And we would appreciate--here's the standard
    line in my closing of a hearing--and we appreciate the timely
    response to any such questions the nominee may receive.
        With that, the hearing is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 5:36 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]

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                              A P P E N D I X

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                               Opening Statement

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                            Introduction Statements

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                            Nomination Material for

                               HON. CHERYL MASON

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                            Nomination Material for

                                   DON BERGIN

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                           Submissions for the Record

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