Denis McDonough was confirmed on Feb. 8 as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He previously served in the role under President Barack Obama. (Photo: VA.gov)
On Jan. 14, the Black Veterans Empowerment Council — a newly-formed coalition of black veterans organizations — sent an open letter to then-President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris petitioning the inbound administration to diversify senior positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In the letter, BVEC Director Victor LaGroon says that a more diverse cast of senior leadership in the VA would be better able to accommodate the needs of black and other minority veteran communities across the United States.
In the letter, LaGroon says, “appointing diverse veteran leadership is a necessary step toward displaying the incoming administration is diametrically opposed to the previous administration’s toxic culture at the Department of Veterans Affairs. For integrity to be re-established veterans urgently need VA leadership who do not merely seek to manage crisis or administrative transition, but those whose background is squarely rooted in the experience of veterans of color.”
LaGroon notes that there are many instances where black veterans have been denied benefits other veterans have enjoyed. He says, “black veterans are consequently twice as likely to live in poverty, represent an overwhelming disproportionality of homeless veterans across our country and suffer higher rates of joblessness, incarceration and associated disparities.”
On Feb. 8, the U.S. Senate confirmed Denis McDonough as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Secretary McDonough is one of only two non-veterans to serve in the VA’s highest position.
Since his appointment, Secretary McDonough has noted that his priorities include “eliminating veteran homelessness and suicide and ensuring the department welcomes all veterans, including women, veterans of color and LGBTQ veterans.”
Black Veterans Empowerment Council Director Victor LaGroon (Photo: BVECouncil.org)
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
