Trump picks former Rep. Doug Collins for veterans affairs secretary

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that he will nominate Doug Collins, a former Georgia lawmaker, to lead the Department of Veteran Affairs in his administration.

Collins, an Iraq war veteran who left Congress in 2021, was a fierce defender of Trump during his 2019 impeachment inquiry.

“Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War,” Trump said in a statement Thursday. “We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need.”

Collins said he was honored to accept the nomination and vowed to deliver best-in-class care to veterans.

“Our heroes deserve the best care and support.” Collins wrote on X. “We’ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned.”

The Cabinet post requires Senate confirmation.

Collins, 58, was first elected to the House in 2012. He served until 2021, following an unsuccessful bid for Senate the previous year.

Collins was an outspoken supporter of Trump during his first impeachment inquiry, in 2019, when he was the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump but he was acquitted by the Republican majority in the Senate.

Trump has expressed past support for Collins, previously floating him as a potential challenger to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022. Collins ultimately decided against running for governor or seeking a Senate seat during the midterms.