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Cancer

VA's Internal Debate on Canceling Research Contracts Threatens Millions of Veterans' Health

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A fiercely debated proposal within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cancel research contracts with Harvard Medical School threatens the health and well-being of millions of veterans. The contracts, which involve studying veterans' behavior and risk of suicide, have been deemed "critical" by some VA officials. Dr. Ronald Kessler, a renowned psychiatric epidemiologist and Harvard professor, has been working closely with the VA to develop a project that helps clinicians determine whether suicidal veterans treated in emergency rooms should be hospitalized or discharged. However, VA officials, including Secretary Doug Collins, have begun to scrutinize contracts with Harvard, citing a desire to cut costs and outsource work that the government could perform internally.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Ronald Kessler's project, which aims to study veterans' behavior and risk of suicide, has been deemed "critical" by some VA officials and has the potential to save lives.
  • The VA has planned to cut tens of thousands of employees as part of the Trump administration's efforts to cut costs and remake the federal bureaucracy.
  • VA Secretary Doug Collins has repeatedly pledged that veterans' health care would not be affected by the cuts, but the internal debate around contracts threatens to undermine his commitment.
  • The contracts facing termination, including the one related to cancer treatment for veterans, would support research for clinical trials, including screening for prostate cancer.
  • Each year, hundreds of thousands of veterans seek treatment for cancer through VA or through community clinics sponsored by the department.
  • The VA has not officially terminated the contracts, but several of Harvard's VA contracts and grants have either been terminated or are under consideration for cancellation.
  • Dr. Nancy Keating, a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School, emphasized the importance of sustained federal funding for research into veterans' health.

Statistics:

  • Over 6,400 veterans died by suicide in 2022, according to VA data, the most recent available.
  • The VA has planned to cut tens of thousands of employees as part of the Trump administration's efforts to cut costs and remake the federal bureaucracy.
  • Hundreds of thousands of veterans seek treatment for cancer through VA or through community clinics sponsored by the department each year.

Sources:

  • CNN, "VA contracts with Harvard for research are under review"
  • The New York Times, "VA officials have internal debate over canceling contracts with Harvard"
  • Emails reviewed by CNN, obtained from the US Department of Veterans Affairs
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs, "VA Secretary Doug Collins on Veterans' Health Care"
  • Harvard Medical School, "Dr. Nancy Keating, professor of healthcare policy"

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