VA Reverses Controversial Disability Rule Amid Veteran Backlash
In Rare Move, Veterans Affairs Pulls Back on Controversial Disability Rule
The Department of Veterans Affairs made headlines by halting a contentious interim rule that would have transformed disability evaluations for millions of veterans. Initially issued with immediate effect on February 17, 2026, the policy directed examiners to assess conditions based on medicated functionality, potentially lowering ratings for those managing chronic pain, musculoskeletal issues, or mental health through prescribed treatments. Veterans groups like the VFW fiercely opposed it, arguing it punished compliance with medical advice and contradicted court precedents requiring evaluation of unmedicated impairment.[1][2][3]
Veterans' Backlash Forces VA Reversal
Swift backlash ensued from advocacy organizations and lawmakers, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who decried the bypass of public comment periods. VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore demanded rescission, highlighting risks to veterans' earned benefits and calling for transparent dialogue. VA Secretary Doug Collins responded on X, announcing the rule would not be enforced, prioritizing community concerns despite defending its intent to align with historical practices.[3][4]
Implications for Veterans' Benefits
This retreat underscores the power of unified veteran voices in shaping policy. While existing ratings remain untouched, the pause allows ongoing public input, potentially averting broader cuts like proposed CBO options for 2026. It reaffirms commitment to a non-adversarial system, ensuring treatments don't undermine compensation for service-connected sacrifices.[5]
About the Organizations Mentioned
Department of Veterans Affairs
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Department of Veterans Affairs: A Pillar of Support for America's Heroes</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #003087; } h2 { color: #005ea2; } strong { color: #d4351c; } ul { margin-bottom: 20px; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Department of Veterans Affairs: Empowering Heroes with Cutting-Edge Benefits and Tech-Driven Care</h1> <p>The **United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)** stands as a cabinet-level federal agency dedicated to delivering lifelong healthcare, benefits, and memorial services to military veterans and their families.[1][2] As the nation's second-largest department after Defense, it employs nearly 371,000 professionals across 1,255 facilities, serving over 9 million veterans annually.[2][3]</p> <h2>Rich History and Evolution</h2> <p>Established as the Veterans Administration in 1930 and elevated to cabinet status in 1989, the VA has grown into a powerhouse of support.[1][4] Its core structure includes three administrations: **Veterans Health Administration (VHA)** for integrated healthcare and research; **Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)** handling education (GI Bill), home loans, insurance, vocational rehab, and compensation; and **National Cemetery Administration (NCA)** maintaining 150+ shrines.[1][2][6]</p> <
VFW
# The Veterans of Foreign Wars: America's Largest War Veterans Organization The **Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)** is a nonprofit veterans service organization representing United States military personnel who served in overseas conflicts.[1] Established on September 29, 1899, in Columbus, Ohio, the VFW was federally chartered by Congress in 1936 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.[1] ## Historical Foundation The VFW originated when Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection veterans formed local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service.[2] Multiple regional groups—including the American Veterans of Foreign Service in Ohio, the Colorado Society of the Army of the Philippines in Denver, and another chapter in Pennsylvania—merged in 1913 to create the unified national organization.[1][3] ## Mission and Purpose The organization's core mission is to foster camaraderie among veterans, serve veterans and military members, and advocate on their behalf.[2] The VFW works to ensure veterans receive earned entitlements, respect for their service, and recognition for their sacrifices.[3] The organization maintains legislative services and a national rehabilitation program in Washington, D.C., assisting disabled veterans with government compensation, pension claims, hospitalization, and employment preferences.[1] ## Current Operations and Impact As of December 2025, the VFW comprises approximately 1.3 million members across 5,556 posts worldwide.[1] The organization operates more than 6,000 local units and maintains advocates in all 53 VA regional offices and 20 military installations.[5] The VFW has secured major legislative victories, including instrumental roles in establishing the Veterans Administration, developing the national cemetery system, and passing the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008.[2] ## Contemporary Focus Today, the VFW
Congressional Budget Office
The **Congressional Budget Office (CBO)** is a nonpartisan federal agency established in 1974 by the Congressional Budget Act to support Congress in budget and economic policy matters. Its core mission is to provide objective, impartial, and professional economic and budgetary analysis to help lawmakers make informed decisions about fiscal policy. The CBO serves as an independent alternative to the executive branch’s Office of Management and Budget, ensuring Congress has its own reliable data and projections[1][2][3][7]. CBO’s primary responsibilities include producing formal cost estimates for nearly every bill approved by congressional committees and publishing key reports such as the annual *Budget and Economic Outlook*. This flagship report offers baseline budgetary and economic projections over a 10-year horizon, assuming current laws remain unchanged. The agency also conducts analyses of the economic impacts of proposed federal spending and tax policies, aiding Congress in understanding long-term fiscal effects and budget deficits[1][3][5]. Since its inception, the CBO has become a critical institution in the U.S. budget process, recognized for its rigorous methodology and nonpartisan stance. It employs experts in economics and public policy who draw on a wide range of data, forecasting models, and external expert advice to maintain accuracy and credibility. The agency has adapted to the digital age by enhancing its publication and digital media divisions to better communicate its findings to both legislators and the public[3]. Currently, the CBO continues to provide vital analysis amid complex economic conditions, such as assessing the federal deficit, tax revenue changes, and spending trends. It remains strictly neutral, never making policy recommendations, but offering transparent methodologies that underpin its analyses[5][7]. For stakeholders in business and technology news, the CBO’s work is essential for understanding how fiscal decisions may influence economic growth, innovation funding, and federal investment priorities.
X
## Overview X, formerly known as Twitter, is one of the world’s most influential social media and technology companies, renowned for its real-time communication platform that has shaped global discourse, news dissemination, and digital culture. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, X operates a microblogging service that allows users to post short messages (originally limited to 140 characters, later expanded to 280), share media, and engage in public and private conversations[2][4]. ## History X began as Twitter, launched in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams as a side project at Odeo, a podcasting company[2][4]. The platform quickly evolved from a simple status-update tool into a global hub for breaking news, political activism, and cultural trends. By 2012, it had over 100 million users posting 340 million tweets daily, and it went public in 2013 with a valuation exceeding $31 billion[2][4]. Over the years, Twitter acquired notable platforms like Vine (short-form video) and Periscope (live streaming), and introduced features such as algorithmic feeds, threaded conversations, and expanded media capabilities[2][4]. ## Key Achievements Twitter became a critical tool during major global events, notably the Arab Spring, where it facilitated protest coordination and real-time updates[4]. Its role in shaping public opinion, enabling celebrity-fan interactions, and serving as a primary news source for millions underscored its cultural and political significance. The platform’s innovations—such as hashtags, retweets, and verified accounts—set industry standards for social media engagement[4]. ## Current Status and Notable Developments In April 2022, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, launched a $44 billion bid to acquire Twitter, culminating in a contentious acquisition process that concluded in October 2022[2][5][6]. Musk’s takeover brought sweeping changes: mass
