ASHA Investigating Reports About Changes at the VA

Updated: July 1, 2025

At this time, there are currently no known direct impacts on audiologists, speech-language pathologists, or those they serve.

We learned that an ASHA member who works in the VA received a message on June 24 from the VA Secretary emphasizing:

“the VA does not tolerate discrimination on any grounds, including political affiliation or marital status. Under no circumstances whatsoever would VA ever deny appropriate care to any eligible Veteran, survivor, or beneficiary or appropriate employment to any qualified, potential employees. Under no circumstances whatsoever would VA ever allow any employee to refuse to provide appropriate care to any eligible Veteran, survivor, or beneficiary or appropriate employment to any qualified, potential employees. I ask that you help convey this message to Veterans, survivors, beneficiaries, and others who may be concerned due to disinformation propagated by media outlets like The Guardian.”

According to the VA, a 2013 VA directive [PDF] remains in force, prohibiting discrimination in federally-conducted and federally-assisted programs and activities based on a wide range of characteristics, including:

“race, color, religion, national origin, Limited English Proficiency (LEP), age, sex (includes gender identity and transgender status), sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital and parental status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, harassment, or retaliation”

ASHA reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the mission and core values that define our association and shape our shared identity including non-discrimination. We will continue monitoring this situation.

June 18, 2025

ASHA has learned about recent reports suggesting changes to employment practices and guidelines for care that could impact audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who provide services to veterans in Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities.

The reports claim that new VA guidelines eliminate language requiring health care professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status and allow clinicians to be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation, or union activity.

What You Need to Know

The Guardian published an article earlier this week claiming that language requiring health care professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status has been explicitly eliminated to conform VA policies with a previous executive order.

• The article asserts that individual VA employees are now free to decline care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law.
• In addition, the Guardian states that doctors and other allied health professionals (including audiologists and SLPs) can also be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation, or union activity.
• The Trump administration has denied the reporting. VA Secretary Doug Collins called the Guardian article “false and ridiculous.” Secretary Collins added that “all eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law.”
• A key U.S. Senator has raised questions about the report and is seeking clarification from the VA.

What’s Next?

ASHA reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the mission and core values that define our association and shape our shared identity. We are working to confirm reports about changes in employment policies by speaking with audiologists and SLPs who work at the VA collaborating with other associations representing clinicians who provide services in the VA, and encouraging members of Congress to get answers to questions the article raises.

What Can You Do?

The most important action you can take right now is to share any personal experience or information you may have about potential changes in employment practices or guidance for providing care in the VA by completing ASHA’s federal and state policy impact member feedback form. Your feedback helps us better understand the impact of these changes so we can better guide resource allocation and advocacy support for members, affiliates, and the communities that audiologists and SLPs serve.

We will provide updates on this page as they become available.

Questions?

Contact Rebecca Bowen, ASHA's director of health care policy, value, and innovation, at rbowen@asha.org.