December 13, 2016
Mr. Donald J. Trump
President-elect of the United States
725 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Dear President-elect Trump:
As leaders of the nation’s foremost veterans service organizations (VSOs), we write to
respectfully request a meeting directly with you to discuss the urgent challenges facing
America’s veterans and offer our unique perspectives on critical decisions you and your
administration are considering today, and those you will make in the days and weeks ahead.
During your election campaign, we were heartened to hear you consistently talk about the
importance of taking care of America’s veterans. As advocates for the men and women who
served, we agree that our Nation has a sacred obligation to those who wore the uniform and that
it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure our veterans have proper access to the
full array of benefits, services and supports promised to them.
Our organizations are dedicated to ensuring these promises are fulfilled through our service,
volunteer, advocacy and numerous other direct assistance programs. Our combined 5 ½ million
veteran members – who use, volunteer for and work in the VA system – provide us with a depth
of experience and knowledge about VA programs, their strengths and weaknesses, that we hope
to share with you and your administration. We know firsthand the challenges facing veterans as
well as the historic opportunities for strengthening the VA system of health care and benefits.
As you are aware, over the past decade VA has faced significant challenges in delivering highquality, timely benefits and health care to all eligible and enrolled veterans, reaching a breaking
point in early 2014 due to the VA health care wait time scandals. A close partnership and open
rapport between the current administration and the undersigned VSOs were key to bringing
about significant changes, such as reducing the claims backlog, improving access to health care,
and crafting strategies to eliminate the appeals backlog. There is more work to be done, and a
tireless focus on the “veteran experience” must continue if VA is to succeed. Secretary Robert
McDonald is to be commended for his business acumen and leadership insights from which the
MyVA paradigm and other effective initiatives originated. It will be imperative to build upon the
momentum generated by his work as we aspire toward a more perfect VA under your
administration.
While we were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with members of your transition team
focused on the Department of Veterans Affairs, we hope you will understand that our request to
meet with you is based on the belief that there is no higher priority than, as President Lincoln
said, “…to care for him who shall have born the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan…”

 Early in the New Year, critical policy choices will be made that will affect the quality of and
access to health care, the accuracy and timeliness of disability compensation and other benefits,
and the effectiveness and availability of transition services for millions of men and women who
served in the armed forces. There are also pressing decisions to be made in the days ahead about
who will be your VA Secretary, what policies will be pursued in the first 100 days, and what you
will request in your first budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs. We hope that you will
look to us and other veteran leaders as you make these and other early decisions that will have a
decisive impact on the future ability of our Nation to fulfill the promises made to the men and
women who served in defense of freedom and our way of life.
On behalf of America’s 20 million veterans, as well as 50 million additional family members and
survivors of veterans, we respectfully request the opportunity to meet with you in order to bring
their voices directly to you as you prepare to assume the office of President.
Respectfully,

Joseph R. Chenelly
Executive Director
AMVETS

Garry J. Augustine
Executive Director
Washington Headquarters
DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

Sherman Gillums, Jr.
Executive Director
Paralyzed Veterans of America

Verna L. Jones.
Executive Director
The American Legion

Robert E. Wallace
Executive Director
Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States

Rick Weidman
Executive Director for Policy
and Government Affairs
Vietnam Veterans of America