Jerry Moran - Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Jerry Moran - Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, conducted a hearing to address mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The session included testimonies from whistleblower and former VCL Lead Auditor Brad Combs, former VCL responder Marcia Blane, as well as staff from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and VA.
Senator Moran expressed his expectations for accountability within the department. "My expectation is Secretary Collins will hold accountable the individuals within the department who were responsible for both the mismanagement at the Veterans Crisis Line and any attempted cover-up of these troubling issues," he stated. He emphasized the importance of the VCL, saying, "The Veterans Crisis Line is a critical tool for veterans at immediate risk of suicide. The members of this committee, as well as VA leadership, must make certain America’s veterans and their family members can depend on this valuable resource."
The GAO audit requested by Senator Moran in November 2023 followed findings by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding VCL mismanagement. These findings highlighted failures before and after a veteran's suicide and included alarming disclosures from Brad Combs and other VCL employees. The GAO published its audit results on June 25, 2025, confirming that significant issues remained unaddressed at VCL.
For further details about Chairman Moran’s inquiries during the hearing, additional information is available online.
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