Trump Appoints 'Loyalist' Former Congressman Collins as Veterans Affairs Secretary

Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, appointed former Congressman Doug Collins as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the 14th (local time).

Former Congressman Collins is a lawyer and served as the federal representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district from 2013 to 2021 as a member of the Republican Party.

Former Congressman Doug Collins Appointed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Second Trump Administration AFP Yonhap News

He enlisted as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve Command in 2002 and was deployed to Iraq in 2008. He currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel and serves as a military chaplain.

He ran for the U.S. Senate seat from Georgia in 2020 with the support of President-elect Trump but did not pass the primary.

Former Congressman Collins is one of President-elect Trump's loyal politicians. According to The Hill, a congressional news outlet, Collins was part of the legal team composed of eight Republican House members during Trump's first impeachment trial over the 'Ukraine scandal' in early 2020. He has continued to serve as legal counsel for President-elect Trump since then.

In a statement, President-elect Trump said, "Doug is currently serving our country as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command," adding, "We must take care of the brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be an excellent advocate to ensure that active-duty military personnel, veterans, and military families receive the support they need."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.