In a renewed push to address the long-standing challenges veterans face after leaving the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins have jointly announced a major review of post-military transition programs.
The goal: to overhaul the systems that help America’s service members reintegrate into civilian life and ensure that the promise of support extends beyond their time in uniform.
The review, launched last week, was revealed in a pre-recorded video statement from both department leaders on Wednesday.
Describing it as an opportunity to “improve the transition process for separating service members and increase collaboration between our departments,” Hegseth and Collins emphasized the need to close the gap between the Department of War (DoW) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement
“Those who raise their right hand [to join the military], we train them, we equip them, we prepare them, we turn them into warfighters,” Hegseth said in the video.
“That’s our job at the Defense Department. But then when they move into the civilian world, that transition has to happen properly, carefully, thoughtfully, so that we follow through on the promise of what they deserve.”
Veterans deserve a seamless transition from @DeptofDefense to @DeptVetAffairs. I met with @SecWar last week to sign a new agreement to improve the transition process for separating servicemembers and increase collaboration between our departments. pic.twitter.com/NdSpfoc3gR
— VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) May 28, 2025
Collins echoed that sentiment, admitting that “there has been a disconnect” between the two departments for far too long. The current process, he implied, leaves too many veterans vulnerable and underserved during one of the most critical periods of their lives.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Post-military transition programs have long been a focus of concern for lawmakers. Multiple congressional initiatives have sought to improve the information flow and access to resources available to service members as they prepare to leave the military.
Current policy mandates that all separating troops attend transition courses to learn about civilian employment, benefits, and VA services. However, many of these classes are either shortened or skipped entirely, as reported by the VA Inspector General.
Despite improvements in outreach—such as periodic follow-up calls from VA counselors—these efforts only succeed if the departing service member is properly registered with the VA prior to separation. According to officials, that is not always the case, leaving many veterans unaware or underinformed about the resources available to them.
The renewed review will also tackle the difficult issue of integrating military medical systems with VA health care, a long-standing challenge dating back more than two decades. One of the main hurdles has been the incompatibility between the two agencies’ electronic health record systems.
Although Collins recently announced a timeline to expedite the transition of VA facilities to the same electronic medical record software used by DoW, completion is still years away.
As part of this broader effort, a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed to formalize the commitment between the two departments. The MOU signals a deepening of inter-agency collaboration in areas ranging from health care and benefits to job training and family services.
The announcement came on a busy day for Pentagon policy. In addition to the transition program review, defense officials unveiled changes to permanent change of station (PCS) move policies aimed at making relocations smoother for service members and their families.
Just a day earlier, Hegseth issued a memo outlining plans to improve support for military families who choose to homeschool, recognizing the growing number of service households opting for alternative education methods.
Meanwhile, Secretary Collins continues to press forward with an internal review of VA contracts and staffing. His stated goal is to enact dramatic cuts and streamline operations, suggesting that more changes could be on the horizon for the massive federal agency responsible for caring for America’s veterans.
While specific reforms to the transition programs have not yet been announced, the new review offers hope for long-overdue changes.
For many veterans, the shift from active duty to civilian life is fraught with challenges—employment uncertainty, health care access, and emotional adjustment.
Leaders in both the Defense Department and the VA acknowledge that better preparation and coordination are essential to meeting the needs of those who have served.
Ultimately, the review initiated by Hegseth and Collins represents more than a bureaucratic reshuffle—it’s a recognition of the nation’s obligation to its veterans. “This is about honoring our commitment,” said one defense official familiar with the effort.
“When someone signs up to serve, we owe it to them to make sure their service is respected not just while they wear the uniform, but after they hang it up.”
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.