BIDEN, TRUMP VETERAN POLICIES OVER THE YEARS—HOW THEY AFFECT VETS
A lot has happened over the last several years in the world of politics and they directly affect the Veteran community. Regardless of who you support, both Trump and Biden have had a direct impact on the Veteran community through policies. Both Trump’s Veteran policies and Biden’s Veteran policies have had their place, but how exactly has each administration impacted our nation’s heroes? Let’s dive deeper into how each has made its mark and what the future might look like for Vets.
Trump and Biden’s Veteran Policies Over the Years
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump's Veteran policies continue to be important benchmarks in the election year. Although Biden has taken himself out of a possible reelection, Kamala Harris is in close alignment with his policies, as the Vice President during his administration. So, she is running against Trump in 2024. In addition to policies are the optics of how each party supports the military. For example, Biden took a trip in France to a World War I cemetery that Trump decided to skip during a trip to France. A bit of a controversy arose after Trump visited the Arlington National Cemetery where he was accused of using the place of reflection and honor for his political agenda. Similarly, Biden came under hot water when he claimed that no troops died under his leadership, which many found not only inaccurate but disrespectful to those who had passed.
Veteran Policies Influenced by the Presidents
For the most part, many bills impacting the Veteran community find support in multiple parties and areas of government; however, there are still plenty of bills influenced by the President. Here are a few notable examples in recent years:
- Trump has done a lot with his policies to help Veterans and their families pursue education. This is seen in the Forever GI Bill, expanding opportunities and increasing training opportunities. Furthermore, Trump allowed GI Bill recipients to keep their full amount when taking classes online.
- Away from education, during the Trump administration, placing Veterans in jobs was a successful part of its legislation. More than 600,000 Vets received jobs with the help of the American Job Center while tens of thousands of workshops were held for more than 500,000 service members transitioning into civilian life.
- It’s also worth noting Trump’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, which helped around 40,000 homeless Vets earn employment.
- For President Biden, the biggest contribution of his term is the PACT Act. This widespread expansion of VA healthcare services and benefits has seen over 1 million claims since its release in 2022.
- The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act helped more Vets access their educational benefits while also helping cover healthcare costs for some within the community.
However, it’s Trump’s Veteran policies involving the VA and Biden’s own record with the organization that has been arguably the most impactful and noticeable for each term.
Presidents and the VA
The VA is a big part of the lives of Veterans and both policies from Trump and Biden have changed the way the organization has handled things in recent years. Naturally, this means changes that impact the Veteran community. For example:
- During his presidency, Trump fired over 10,000 VA employees due to poor performance. Many Veterans reported better services and a better overall experience.
- Furthermore, Trump was able to pass the VA Choice and MISSION Acts, to provide Vets with more local options for their healthcare, not just the VA.
- Since the PACT Act passage, over a million benefits claims have gotten approval. More than 300,000 Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Biden’s tenure will forever be in association with the largest expansion of VA healthcare and benefits in history.
- Leadership within the VA was much less stable under Trump, considering the high amount of turnover mentioned above. On the other hand, Biden’s VA leadership is bringing stability to the department at its highest levels while battling some turnover issues in lower positions.
Overall, regardless of Trump or Biden’s Veteran policies, the VA trust scores have been virtually identical under both administrations with an 80.2% score in 2021 and 80.4% in 2024.
Biden, Trump Veteran Policies and How Kamala Fits In
The Veteran community continues to feel the impact of the last two Presidents of the United States. However, since Vice President Kamala Harris is taking on Donald Trump to lead the free world in the most current election, it’s worth looking at her platform as well. The specifics that could happen will unfold over time but it seems that most of what Kamala Harris is saying would bring about few major changes as she is a part of the current administration. This means things like the PACT Act, supporting current military initiatives, and other similar policies found within the Democratic Party are likely to continue. Hopefully, Biden, Trump, or Kamala’s Veteran policies will continue to help our nation’s heroes, and at the very least maintain the normal level of trust found within the VA for everyone using these resources. Related reads:
- Kamala Harris Commander-in-Chief and Possible Military Policies
- What to Expect After a Medical Retirement from the Military
- Did Donald Trump Serve in the Military?
Sources: Veterans and Military Families for Trump. Accessed September 2024. The White House. Accessed September 2024.