VA Secretary Doug Collins visits the Wilmington VA Medical Center

During the visit, Collins and local and regional VA leaders discussed ways to speed hiring efforts at the facility and improve relationships with nearby community care providers. 

“Under President Trump, VA is putting Veterans first. That starts by having honest conversations like the ones we had in Wilmington today. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from local Veterans and staff, whose feedback will help us make VA work better for Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins

“It was an honor to welcome Secretary Collins to the Wilmington VA,” said Wilmington VAMC Interim Director Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks. “His visit underscores VA’s unwavering commitment to serve those who have served in our Nation’s military, their families, caregivers, and survivors.  By touring our facility, engaging with our Veterans, and recognizing our exceptional staff, Secretary Collins demonstrated his support for health care innovation here in Wilmington, ensuring every Veteran will receive the world-class care and services they have earned, for years to come.”

Successful VA accomplishments and milestones reached during the second Trump Administration so far include: 

• VA has eliminated the backlog of Veteran families waiting for VA health care.
• VA has reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by 60% and is processing record numbers of disability claims, reaching an all-time fiscal-year high of three million claims processed Sept. 30.
• VA opened 25 new health care clinics, expanding access for Vets around the country.
• VA permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY25, the highest total in seven years.
• VA is investing an all-time high of nearly $5B to improve health care infrastructure at facilities across the nation.

Valerie Harwood, Public Affairs Officer

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