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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · 7d

Breaking VA news -- Trump's pick for UnderSec for Benefits, Karen Brazell, has withdrawn her name for the post. Leaves a big question about who will take on the leadership role. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Sep 11

Veterans volunteer longer, vote more often than civilian peers, according to a new report looking at civic engagement
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Veterans volunteer longer, vote more often than civilian peers: report

Fewer veterans are donating their free time to charities today then they did four years ago, but their involvement remains strong.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Sep 5

Hopefully those sources will keep calling as I head over to join the @politico.com defense team, which is an incredible opportunity.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Sep 5

Some personal news...
After 11 years at @militarytimes.bsky.social, next week will be my last at the publication. It has been a great run, thanks to all of the excellent reporters and generous sources I've been lucky enough to work with.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Sep 5

BLS unemployment data for August: 3.1% for all vets (3.0% in July), 3.0% for OIF/OEF era vets (3.1% in July), 4.3% for the nation (4.2% in July).

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Sep 3

Happening now: @repmarktakano.bsky.social, Sen Blumenthal, Rep Brownley and veterans advocates protesting @DeptVetAffairs proposed rule change dumping access to abortion care. Takano calls it a matter of veterans health and safety.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Aug 5

Update from the VA Inspector General's Office: New IG Cheryl Mason was sworn in yesterday. Background here -- www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Senate confirms senior VA advisor to become next department watchdog

The incoming VA Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, worked for several months alongside the senior VA leaders she will now be charged with investigating.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Aug 1

BLS unemployment data for July: 3.0% for all vets (3.7% in June), 3.1% for OIF/OEF era vets (3.8% in June), 4.2% for the nation (4.1% in June).

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 31

Despite Democratic objections over her lack of independence, senior VA advisor Cheryl Mason was confirmed today as the department's new inspector general www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Senate confirms senior VA advisor to become next department watchdog

The incoming VA Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, worked for several months alongside the senior VA leaders she will now be charged with investigating.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 17

New this morning: @harvardkennedy.bsky.social out today with a new fellowship for vets and former federal workers for public service studies. Move comes as the university is sparring publicly with the White House on a host of issues. www.militarytimes.com/education-tr...

Harvard to launch new service fellowship for veterans, federal workers

The American Service Fellowship will provide 50 students with free tuition for a one-year master's degree program.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 16

HASC passes #FY26NDAA draft by a 55-2 vote -- final gavel comes down at 11:37pm. Details here: www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

House panel advances DOD policy bill with sweeping acquisition reforms

Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have now approved their initial drafts of the annual defense authorization bill.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 15

Happy to help

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 15

Order for today's HASC #FY26NDAA markup:
— Tactical Air/Land
— Strategic forces
— Seapower
— Cyber
— Readiness
— Intelligence
— Personnel
— Full committee matters

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 15

It’s HASC #NDAA time. #FY26NDAA

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jul 7

VA expects to total almost 30,000 staff cuts by the end of this fiscal year, but is dropping plans for a larger reduction in force to trim the department bureaucracy www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

VA expects 30K voluntary job cuts by October, erasing need for layoffs

More than 17,000 Veterans Affairs jobs have been eliminated or vacated since the start of the year.

www.militarytimes.com

Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 27

After last week's airstrikes, Rep. Tony Gonzales is proposing the creation of a new Iranian Campaign Medal, with eligibility open to any troops who served in direct support of Operation Midnight Hammer.
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Lawmaker proposes Iranian Campaign Medal for strikes on nuclear sites

Pilots and supporting servicemembers involved in the complex airstrikes would be eligible for the new military medal.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 26

Lots of news today, but this House Dems roundtable now on veterans housing support is worth noting. The issue is becoming a friction point between the parties, with veterans groups trying to push for both reforms and continued support of current programs.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 25

House Republicans pass $435 billion budget plan for VA next fiscal year over objections from Democratic lawmakers www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

House passes $435 billion spending plan for VA in fiscal 2026

Republicans approved plans for an 18% boost in total Veterans Affairs spending next year, but the measure is far from becoming law.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 25

Out now: @afghanevac and @iava are asking vets to accompany Afghan allies into immigration hearings, to show support from the community and provide reassurance if needed www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Advocates recruit vets to attend Afghan allies’ immigration hearings

The effort is designed to show support for legal immigration of more Afghans who worked alongside American forces during the war overseas.

www.militarytimes.com

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 24

Happening now — VA Sec Collins testified before the Senate Approps Committee on the FY26 budget request. Live here: www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 18

Trump will nominate U.S. Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Daryl Caudle to serve as the Navy’s next chief of naval operations -- details from Riley Ceder
www.militarytimes.com/news/your-na...

Trump taps Fleet Forces head as Navy’s next chief of naval operations

Caudle, a career submariner from North Carolina, has been in command of the Norfolk, Virginia-based U.S. Fleet Forces Command since December 2021.

www.militarytimes.com

Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 18

Unusual level of chippiness at SASC today for SecDef Hegseth's testimony. Sen. Sheehy yelled at protestors from the dias before the hearing began. Sen. Tuberville just taunted Sen. Hirono to "ask professional questions" during her time grilling Hegseth.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 12

Presser now at VFWHQ with Sen Blumenthal pushing for more support for military sexual trauma victims — concerns the bipartisan Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act.

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Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 12

Day three of SecDef Hegseth budget hearings on Capitol Hill, this time before House Armed Services. Crowds are still large -- lots of folks waiting in the hallway, hoping a seat in the large hearing room opens up.

Leo Shane III @leoshane.bsky.social · Jun 10

Hegseth testimony before House Approps this morning, by the numbers:

** "Warrior ethos" -- five times
** "Lethality" -- four times
** "Warfighter" -- four times
** References to the souther US border -- 16 times

docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...

docs.house.gov

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