Veterans don’t want sympathy. They want abilities.

For too long, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not provided either. A system designed to serve those who served has become a bloated bureaucracy where processes are prioritized over people.

That’s why Secretary Collins is driving him to overhaul the VA issue. He is not interested in optics or vague promises. He focuses on streamlining care, cutting out red tape, reducing backlogs, and fixing broken things by retaining system responsibility. Finally, someone is treating this like an urgent, moral, business crisis. (Related: Service members go home just to find themselves in a new hell – VA’s cold bureaucracy)

There is no mistake. The goal is not to build a system based on emotions. It’s about building something rooted in reality.

We told veterans not because they were victims, but because they supported the end of the bargain. They took a vow and respected it. What they deserve now is not a blank check or endless respect. They deserve a working system. It is responsive, efficient, outcome-based, not good intentions, and based on outcomes.

For years, disconnection between the Veterans Health Department and community providers has left veterans trapped in a maze of confusion Replica tests, delayed treatments, and competing protocols. I don’t care about that. It’s chaos. Especially for communities experiencing suicide rates 72% higher More than non-veteran US adults. People dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or toxic exposures, these are not just bureaucratic slip-ups, they are dangerous failures.

Secretary Collins understands this. He coordinates the system, eliminates redundancy and ensures that veterans don’t have to be a paperwork expert just to access the benefits they have acquired. This is what real reform looks like. We don’t just talk about modernization, we actually provide it.

That same nonsense approach extends to compensation for obstacles. Almost a third of disabled veterans The process is too slow, too complicated, too often wrong, and not receiving what they owed. Collins has not proposed handouts. He focuses on ensuring that qualified people actually receive what they owes.

He also took on one of the most unpleasant truths of the system: Veterans with hospital discharge with other opinions are excluded In the cold, many of them suffer from trauma connected to unrecognized or untreated services. Collins is right to ask if some of these doors should be reopened. This is not about eliminating the norms, but about acknowledging the context and providing accountability along with care.

Plus, there are too many VA providers Not well trained Identify and address specific health challenges faced by veterans. Whether exposed to toxic chemicals, military trauma, or increased risk of suicide, the VA system often failed to properly address these issues. Many veterans report that their healthcare providers are unable to handle their own needs, causing veterans to be constantly uncertain and distress.

That includes veterans Ruralaccess remains a serious challenge. There may also be brick and mortar stores in the three counties on the month. Telehealth and mobile units are not luxury. These are essentials. Collins’ focus on reaching these veterans without breaking the bank is both smart policy and sound stewardship. (Related: Trump administrator reportedly cut 80,000 jobs due to veteran issues)

And there’s no urgency anywhere It’s more important than mental health. The current system – slow, lacking resources, and responding too often – isn’t just tense. It’s failing. We all saw the headline. We all buried someone we should have had to. Secretary Collins treats this like an emergency. He is right to do so.

Trump-era mission law opened doors for more flexibility and community care, and it was the right move. But the law is as good as its implementation. What Collins understands, and what Washington forgets too often, is that it is not measured by how reform sounds. They are measured by whether they work or not.

That means disciplined, not vast. It’s thoughtful and unreactive. The answer to a broken system is not endless spending or empty promises. It is a targeted reform and is based on what actually helps. That’s what Secretary Collins is offering.

Veterans do not need to be added. They need to be respected. It starts with a system based on dignity, accountability and outcomes. We have the weight of war. There is no need to carry a broken system either.

Dr. Meaghan Mobbs is the director of the American Center for Safety and Security at the Independent Women’s Forum. She is also the Union’s Military Advocacy and Policy Liaison Office for Military Excellence.