Top House Veterans Affairs Democrat Vows Action After VA Moves To Dismantle LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator Network

Rep. Mark Takano, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs after an internal July 23 email indicated the VA is dismantling the national infrastructure that supported LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators for more than a decade.

What the Email Says

The July 23 message, signed by Mark A. Koeniger, the Veterans Health Administration's acting assistant under secretary for health for patient care services, instructs that LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators be redesignated as general care coordinators. The directive also orders an end to the program's monthly calls, regional leadership meetings, orientation sessions and national communications, and directs archival of Microsoft Teams channels and SharePoint resources created specifically for the program.

Lawmakers and Staff React

Takano called the move "just the latest cruel attack by the Trump administration on our nation's veterans," saying it is part of a broader pattern of policy changes that, in his view, narrow veterans' access to culturally competent care. "As the lead Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will do everything I can to defend every veteran's access to culturally competent care, including LGBTQ+ veterans," he said in a statement to The Advocate.

"Shuttering the LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator program is just the latest cruel attack by the Trump administration on our nation's veterans." — Rep. Mark Takano

Impact On Coordinators And Veterans

The July 23 message follows an earlier internal VA memorandum in June that ordered the removal of gender identity–based initiatives and directed facilities to eliminate the LGBTQ+ designation from the Veteran Care Coordinator program. At that time, employees were told the change would be largely nominal and that duties would remain the same. The newer email, however, details a broader dismantling of the national network that linked coordinators across the country.

An anonymous VA health-care provider who worked with the program told The Advocate the directive left coordinators feeling "shock, anger, and betrayal." The provider said many staff had relayed assurances to veterans that only job titles would change, and now must retract those assurances. They described the reversal as "moral injury on top of moral injury."

Although the July 23 email does not state that LGBTQ+ veterans will be denied VA health care outright, staff and advocates warn that eliminating a coordinated national network will remove specialized support that helped veterans navigate care and connected clinicians serving LGBTQ+ needs.

Broader Context And Response

Advocates say the action aligns with a wider Trump administration push to remove LGBTQ+-specific programs and references across federal agencies, citing a policy preference against initiatives based on gender identity. The Advocate contacted Pete Kasperowicz, the VA's assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs, seeking clarification about why staff were told only titles would change, how LGBTQ+ veterans will continue to receive specialized assistance after the network is dismantled, and why other specialty programs remain intact. The department had not responded as of the report.

Lawmakers and advocates indicate they will pursue oversight and may seek answers in Congress as veterans' services groups weigh the practical effect of losing a centralized coordinator network that provided training, communications and a forum for sharing best practices.

Note: This report is based on documents and interviews originally published by The Advocate and on statements from Rep. Mark Takano and unnamed VA staff.