In a post to X, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that the VA has paid nearly $60,000 to contractors to water 8 plants. This is an endemic of the massive waste in VA hospitals. VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video announcing the massive cost-saving measures coming to the embattled program.
“The VA cancelled a $56,000 contract to water ~8 plants for 5 years. This is ~$1400/plant/year. The contract has been canceled and DOGE will water the plants free of charge,” announced the agency. The department has made a number of similar posts chronicling government graft. In response to this announcement, VA Secretary Doug Collins released a statement in support of DOGE.
Collins began by explaining that this will not be the last announcement from his office. “Hey, everybody, you know it’s getting fast paced, and I keep coming to you with what we’re doing,” he began. “And hey, I’ve got a number, I got some big news for you. And look, this is why we talk about efficiency and getting the job done for veterans here at the VA right now, I’ve just been told we’re just the first step of almost 2 billion.”
“That’s billion with a B that we found in contracts that are cutting those are things that we’re saving now that we can put back into health care benefits, making sure that we’re doing what the VA is supposed to and that is health insurance benefits, you know, it stand to reason,” he added. ” But hey, you got to see this. I’ve been given this report.”
“So we were taking millions of contracts, in dollars, in contracts to create things like PowerPoint slides and meeting minutes. Folks, if you don’t know how to run PowerPoint slides, learn. It’s a tutorial on your computer. Go learn for free. It’s okay,” he humorously said.” Take your own notes. Wow. I’ll send you one of my pencils if you need one.”
“But we’re not paying millions of dollars for consultants to do this for us. Also, I found out coaching and training millions of dollars in contracts for coaching and training,” Collins explained. “If you need coaching and training, that’s what you have in a supervisor. And if your supervisor can’t coach you and train you in their job, then I tell you what, let me know, I’ll come help.”
“We’ll be ready to go. And also, this last one kills me. It’s the millions of dollars for executive support. You know, I love you and I support you, but we can figure out how to do things on our own. We don’t need outside people coming in to help us with executive support,” the VA Secretary announced. ” Look, these are kind of think we have more coming. This is going to have some details.”
“There is going to be coming out for you, and also, there’s more contracts coming. So this is just the first of all, right, at 2 billion we got almost there,” he concluded. “There’s going to be more coming. But let me let you know, don’t feed the line of what DC is wanting to tell you, we are putting money back to veterans health, back to veterans benefits, and don’t let nameless sources even Senators and House members who want to scare you in media, who want to perpetuate the lie. We’re taking care of the veterans, I promise you that from day one.”