A new report from The Michigan Independent reveals that Project 2025, a strategic plan developed by former Trump administration officials, would lead to significant cuts in benefits for disabled veterans if implemented during a future Republican presidency.
The plan outlines an aggressive overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including placing political appointees in leadership positions and rescinding directives that require the VA to provide abortion services. Project 2025 argues that these services are beyond the VA’s legal and clinical scope.
More critically, the plan suggests reexamining and potentially reducing veterans’ disability benefits as part of a broader effort to save money. Currently, veterans receive tax-free benefits based on a disability rating assigned by the VA, ranging from 10% to 100%. Project 2025 proposes speeding up the review of these ratings, which could lead to reductions in benefits for many veterans, even those who have already been receiving compensation for years.
Michael Embrich, a former policy advisor to the VA Secretary, warned that this approach could strip veterans of their rightful benefits through arbitrary reassessments. “They would reassess every veteran’s disability, and if they decide a condition no longer qualifies, benefits could be cut off,” Embrich explained.
The plan also includes provisions to fire a significant portion of the federal workforce, potentially affecting up to 300,000 veterans who currently work for the government. Embrich emphasized the potential national security risks, questioning why individuals would be motivated to join the military if they see veterans treated this way by the government.
Naveed Shah, political director of Common Defense, a progressive veterans group, pointed out that veterans already face challenges in accessing disability benefits. He argued that while preventing fraud is important, Project 2025’s proposals go far beyond reasonable measures, potentially leaving many veterans without the support they need after serving the country.
According to The Michigan Independent, the plan’s broader agenda includes rolling back abortion rights and limiting reproductive health care, reflecting a conservative shift that could have wide-ranging implications for veterans and the nation as a whole.
