Latest news with #VoteVets
Newsweek
6 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Pete Hegseth Renaming Harvey Milk Navy Ship Sparks Fury From Veterans Group
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. VoteVets accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of a "deliberate insult to LGBTQ" troops by renaming a U.S. Navy ship that had carried Harvey Milk's name. Milk served for four years in the Navy, during the Korean War, before he was forced out for being gay. He later became one of the first openly gay candidates elected to public office and a famed civil rights activist. He was murdered in 1978. "At the start of Pride Month, Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to strip Harvey Milk's name from a ship," VoteVotes, a progressive veterans activist group, posted to X, formerly Twitter. "A man who served with honor—erased to send a message. This is a deliberate insult to LGBTQ Troops and Americans that weakens our force and shreds the values we fight for." The renaming marks the latest move by Hegseth and the wider Trump administration to purge all programs, policies, books, and social media mentions of references to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hegseth says he is reestablishing the "warrior culture" in America's military. This is a developing article. Updates to follow. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Veterans Group Attacks Trump Cuts in Memorial Day Message
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A veterans group has taken aim at President Donald Trump's cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in a Memorial Day message posted online. Why It Matters Like other departments, the VA has not been immune to staffing cuts ordered by the Trump administration as part of a broad effort to reduce the size and cost of the federal government. What To Know In a post on X, formerly Twitter, progressive political action committee VoteVets criticized the Trump administration for the cutbacks, as well as the president's senior advisor and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk. "Gutting VA will result in delayed appointments and substandard care, leading directly to more veteran deaths. In fact, as reports and internal documents now prove, Elon Musk's wrecking ball is causing systems to fail, putting veterans at risk," Kayla Williams, Iraq Veteran and senior policy advisor at VoteVets, said. "It's a slap in the face to all who have worn the uniform in defense of our nation." This #MemorialDay, recognize that cuts to the VA mean delayed care and more deaths, which is a slap in the face to those who served. — VoteVets (@votevets) May 25, 2025 The VA plans to reduce its workforce by more than 17 percent, about 82,000 staffers, and numerous contracts held by the agency have been cut. Earlier this month, Federal News Network reported that over 14,000 VA employees in health-care positions applied to leave their jobs through separation incentives offered by the federal government. In an effort to reduce waiting times for VA health care services, the department announced last week that veterans will no longer need a second VA physician to review and approve their eligibility to receive non-VA administered health care. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/GETTY What People Are Saying President Donald Trump in a proclamation on Memorial Day, issued by the White House on May 24: "America's Gold Star Families—whose sons, daughters, wives, and husbands are among the honored—endure unfathomable heartache. Their loved ones selflessly gave everything to protect our sovereignty. They have our unwavering support, deepest gratitude, and highest respect. The lives lost in war serve as a solemn reminder of why we must pursue peace through strength." VA Secretary Doug Collins in a statement regarding Memorial Day: "This Memorial Day and throughout the year, we at the Department of Veterans Affairs honor and remember the brave heroes who gave their lives in defense of our nation. I encourage Americans to join us at VA cemeteries around the country this weekend to reflect on the tremendous debt we owe these fallen warriors. Their sacrifices have helped make America the greatest place on Earth, and their legacies of courage and commitment inspire us to reach new heights." Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said in a statement shared with Newsweek in March regarding VA staffing cuts: "The VA has been severely understaffed for many years, resulting in longer wait times for veterans in need. The DOGE plunder of career VA employees, adding to the illegal mass firings of thousands of probationary employees, can only make matters worse. Veterans and their families will suffer unnecessarily, and the will of Congress will be ignored." What Happens Next Whether further staffing cutbacks will take place at the VA has not been confirmed.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Pete Buttigieg? Former transport secretary positioning himself for 2028 presidential run
Pete Buttigieg is making his way back to Iowa, the state where his national political career took flight during the 2020 Democratic primary. Now 43, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and transport secretary under President Joe Biden, is headlining a veterans' town hall in Cedar Rapids. The event, hosted by the progressive veterans' group VoteVets, comes amid growing speculation that Buttigieg is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run . While Buttigieg has not formally declared his candidacy, he has avoided committing to other high-profile races, most recently declining to run for either Senate or governor in Michigan, where he and his husband Chasten have relocated. In public remarks and online posts, Buttigieg has focused on the need for a clearer Democratic message in response to what he calls the 'authoritarian tendencies' of President Donald Trump's administration. 'I am more motivated than ever to contribute to the future of this country,' he wrote in a recent Substack post, after confirming he would not run for office in 2026. Though aides say his current travel is about connecting with Americans, Buttigieg joins a list of Democrats quietly testing the waters for a post-Biden era, including JB Pritzker, Wes Moore, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. For Buttigieg, who once topped the Iowa caucus results alongside Bernie Sanders in 2020, the return to Iowa may serve as an unofficial soft launch. Who is Pete Buttigieg? Born January 19, 1982, in South Bend, Indiana Former Mayor of South Bend (elected at age 29) Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Joe Biden Served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves (2009–2017), including a deployment to Afghanistan Graduated from Harvard University in 2004 with a degree in History and Literature Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, 2007 Worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company (2007–2010) Ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries Openly gay and married to Chasten Glezman since 2018 Adopted twins, Penelope Rose and Joseph August, with his husband
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Buttigieg rips Trump's Veterans Affairs cuts & defends trans troops in Iowa town hall
For a man who passed on running for U.S. Senate or governor of Michigan, the Democratic Party's often-described best communicator is garnering a lot of attention. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary and 2020 presidential candidate, returned to Iowa Tuesday for a 75-minute town hall with VoteVets in Cedar Rapids. While not on the ballot, Buttigieg made clear that he believes the country is at an inflection point and that the political work required in the Trump era is not only urgent but deeply personal. Related: Pete Buttigieg enters the manosphere in marathon 'Flagrant' podcast appearance 'We have grown less secure as a country. There is no doubt about it,' Buttigieg said, citing the Trump administration's recent national security lapses, including considering accepting a $400 million aircraft potentially offered by Qatar, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's recent scandal involving texting of sensitive information using the commercially available app Signal. Hegseth has been aggressively trying to kick out and ban military service members. 'We'll be more secure when we honor those who serve, no matter who they are or who they love or how they identify,' Buttigieg said. He repeatedly framed today's political challenges as a test of American values, calling on citizens to meet the moment with moral clarity, especially around trust, democracy, and civil rights. 'What makes America great is its ability to wrestle with its darkest demons and come out stronger and better for it,' he said. He weaved personal stories through his remarks, reflecting on his military service and life as a father to twins Gus and Penelope and husband to Chasten. Buttigieg described his daughter identifying the American flag and his desire to one day explain what it meant to wear that flag into combat and present it to grieving families. 'Before they're old enough for me to lay anything that heavy on them,' he said, 'I'll tell them about the values that that flag represents.' Buttigieg drew applause for defending transgender military service and for confronting Iowa's record as the first state to roll back voting rights for trans people. 'While I think we do need to revisit some of the things that we have had to say policy-wise that haven't kept up with the times as a party, that doesn't mean ever throwing vulnerable people under the bus. Americans may have questions about how to make sure sports are safe and fair, which I get. But Americans also understand that your gender identity shouldn't affect whether you get to vote. And Americans understand that if you are, for example, a soldier who is doing a good job, who is getting good ratings from commander who is contributing to the readiness of this mission, who is ready to put their life on the line, who happens to be transgender, you ought to be honored and not kicked out of the military. People get that." Related: Pete Buttigieg — bearded and blunt — calls out Donald Trump's tariff chaos: 'This is people's lives' During a wide-ranging Q&A, audience members pressed Buttigieg on the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, habeas corpus, veterans' mental health, research funding, refugee deportations, and why young Americans feel disillusioned about democracy. Mike, a veteran working for the VA, asked how to address Trump's cuts, which he said would worsen care delays. Buttigieg called the cuts both 'wrong' and 'unpopular,' adding, 'You don't have to be a VA professional to know that if the workload is rising and you're cutting the personnel, you're going to have a problem.' Steven asked about the administration's threats to habeas corpus—a constitutional right that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. 'Where the hell are the libertarians right now?' Buttigieg said, criticizing Republicans who rail against clean air rules as tyrannical but remain silent about fundamental constitutional rights. Dorothy from Brooklyn pressed Democrats to campaign on what they're for rather than simply opposing Trump. Buttigieg agreed: 'If all my party has to say is let's go back, I am not here saying we got to make things back the way they were in 2023." He added, 'The hard truth is if our government, our politics, our society, and our economy were working, we wouldn't be here. Protoauthoritarian, populist movements don't just come out of nowhere. They find fertile ground when things are not working.' Related: Pete Buttigieg warns of 'major concern' over dangerous Trump-era instability Tim, an active-duty Iowa Army National Guard member, asked how Democrats can regain trust as the party of veterans and working people. Buttigieg said Democrats need to meet people where they are and stop treating people's discontent as invalid. 'If someone you love is upset and your response is, 'You shouldn't be upset, you should be happy'… how'd that go over?" He warned that too often, Americans receive information in presorted silos—only seeing what confirms their views or mocks the other side. 'That's the rage bait, click bait phenomenon,' Buttigieg said. He emphasized the importance of appearing in conservative spaces, including Fox News and long-form podcasts, to break through the filter bubbles that divide voters. Buttigieg has been appearing successfully in right-wing spaces. Recently, he appeared in the so-called 'manosphere,' speaking with the crew of the Flagrant podcast for more than three hours. Most importantly, he said, people need to talk to each other offline, in real life. 'It happened in my vehicle,' he said of his time in Afghanistan, where service members with radically different backgrounds found common ground through their shared mission. 'We've got to understand each other.' Asked by Blake, a University of Iowa student, about Democrats' weak response to the rollback of trans rights, Buttigieg warned that some in his party think they can win by simply letting Trump fail. 'I disagree,' he said. 'They may not be good at governing, but they are really good at allocating blame.' - YouTube
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Buttigieg on whether Biden hurt Democrats with reelection bid: ‘Maybe'
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg suggested former President Biden's decision to run for reelection 'maybe' hurt Democrats in last year's presidential election. 'Right now, with the benefit of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that's the case,' Buttigieg told reporters following a town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the liberal group VoteVets on Tuesday. 'We're also not in a position to wallow in hindsight. We've got to get ready for some fundamental tests of the future of this country and this party, some of which are going on this very year, and many which will come next year,' he continued. Buttigieg's comments come amid the release of a number of books detailing the end of Biden's presidency in which he came under intense scrutiny over his fitness for office. When asked if Biden experienced cognitive decline while in office, Buttigieg said, 'Every time I needed something from him and from the West Wing, I got it.' Buttigieg noted he worked closest with Biden was during the aftermath of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore last year. 'The same president that the world saw addressing that was the same president I was in the Oval with insisting that we do a good job and do right Baltimore and that's characteristic of my experience with him,' Buttigieg said. The town hall in the early contest state has stoked speculation of a possible presidential run from Buttigieg in 2028. Buttigieg told reporters Tuesday he is not running for office at the moment. 'Right now I'm not running for anything,' Buttigieg said. 'Part of what's exciting and compelling about an opportunity like this is to be campaigning for values and ideas rather than a specific electoral campaign. So that's what I'm about but of course it means a lot to hear that the people who supported me then continue to believe in what I have to say.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
