Comment: Some DEI programs ensured protection of veterans’ health

By Cristina Johnson / For The Herald

As the federal government tries to cut costs and increase efficiencies, the Department for Veterans Affairs is not spared from scrutiny.

Part of a nationwide initiative, the VA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program is now to be terminated, saving more than $6.1 million in annual costs with employees and training resources. These funds are to be allocated for improving other services for veterans, including health care and social services. However, some DEI initiatives are more important than others and may serve a greater purpose than being an administrative nuisance.

Before the implementation of the PACT Act, providing veterans with automatic compensation and access to health care for toxic exposure, only a few hundred thousand veterans would get approved each year. In 2021, just one year before this bill was enacted, the VA approved less than 300,000 claims. With the act, the VA processed more than 1.7 million claims and granted compensation for 1.1 million of these. Notably, the act did make access to compensatory services easier, yet for many, this access was also blocked by systemic biases within the VA. For example, data from 2020 and 2021 shows that claims processors refused 14 percnet more claims for veterans from ethnic minority groups. Based on the approval rates under the PACT Act reported for 2025, claims approval for veterans from ethnic minority groups increased by 75 percent. Some of these percentages may be attributed to better cultural awareness and education produced by various DEI initiatives across the country.

The VA also struggles with the quality of the health care services provided to ethnic minority veterans, as well as to women veterans. As demonstrated by research conducted within the VA’s health care network, these veteran groups often face discrimination during their care experiences. These negative encounters can have long-term consequences, including reduced trust in health care providers, decreased adherence to medical advice, and a reluctance to seek further medical assistance. In turn, this contributes to poorer health outcomes and greater disparities in care. These outcomes misalign with the VA’s commitment to provide equitable, high-quality care to all who have served, regardless of race, gender or background.

Impact of DEI reversal on Washington state veterans: More than 469,000 veterans live in Washington state, and more than 121,000 are part of an ethnic minority group. This state is also home to 61,120 women veterans, making up around 11.6 percent of the state’s total veteran population. Without DEI programs, these veteran groups may be underserved by the VA, despite the existence of federal regulations against discrimination and inequity. These VA fund cuts also affect the 46,046 veterans of Snohomish County, including Everett’s veteran community.

Notably, while VA personnel are committed to providing adequate care and services for veterans, systemic biases do not emerge from the malevolence of people, but rather from unconscious behaviors and actions that may undermine others. This phenomenon, referred to as implicit or unconscious bias, is well documented in the literature, with education and awareness being listed as primary tools for addressing such issues.

Once DEI is completely removed from the system, the VA will have to rely solely on its commitment to provide equitable support for veterans and existing policies against discrimination. Time and statistics will tell whether this commitment and policies alone can effectively uphold fairness, trust and access for all veterans, especially for those from historically underserved communities.

Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the Veterans Administration claims process. For more information, go to www.asbestos-ships.com/.