Rep. Becca Balint took to Facebook recently and warned that VA doctors can now refuse care to Democrats — a claim that must have caused fear and concern to her Vermont constituents and veterans. But the troubling part isn’t just the claim itself: it’s that a sitting member of Congress, with access to primary documents and official statements, fell for a debunked narrative without pausing to verify the facts. Or at least check Google.
The alarmist claim, in her own words
In her video, Becca Balint said:
“I want to tell you about a story that broke this week, that’s not getting the attention I think it deserves. It involves the VA, the Veterans Administration, and they have made new rules under guidance from the Trump Administration in an executive order that was signed back in January and essentially it says that doctors and other healthcare providers at VA facilities do not have to offer care to people who have differing political views than the provider. Okay this is essentially saying they can refuse care if you’re a Democrat. It also says that you can refuse care based on your marital status. This is outrageous. This is what autocrats do. This is about the thought police and they’re sick in their cruelty okay and their desire to control us in our views. And so if you are a veteran, or you have someone in your life who is a veteran, we need to be pushing back on this. You need to have your voices heard. I’ll be pushing back on the inside. But this will not stand. This will not stand.”
She framed it as a creeping authoritarianism — calling it “thought control,” and accusing the VA of “sick cruelty.” But none of that is accurate.
Her argument hinges on a Guardian article that reported an internal VA bylaw had been rephrased. It replaced an explicit list that included “political affiliation” and “marital status” with the phrase “any legally protected status.” This changed wording has been widely misinterpreted to suggest the VA had effectively opened the door to partisan or personal discrimination.
The facts tell a different story
But as Snopes made clear in its June 17, 2025 fact-check, that Guardian report was deeply misleading. What the VA actually did was adjust the writing structure — and did not, in fact, expand or alter who merits care under law. Snopes ultimately labeled the story false and the Guardian revised its headline — a rare move prompted by how egregiously the original claim diverged from reality.
More importantly, the VA itself has issued strong, repeated denials. Secretary Doug Collins called the suggestion that doctors could now refuse veterans care “false and ridiculous,” asserting that “all eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and receive the benefits and services they’ve earned.” Veteran Affairs posted on X (@DeptVetAffairs): “This story is disinformation. All eligible Veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law.” These statements — directly contradicting the narrative in Balint’s video — were not cited or even mentioned.
The missing context
What’s more, the VA still enforces internal policies that explicitly ban discrimination based on political affiliation or marital status. VHA Directive 1019 (issued May 2013) remains active; it openly states: “It is VHA policy to prohibit discrimination … on the basis of political affiliation” — guidance legally binding VA facilities and staff. Balint didn’t cite this directive. In fact, her message suggests a blanket institutional endorsement of political discrimination — something that’s counter to VA policy on its face.
And here’s the core issue: Despite having access to these primary documents and VA statements, Balint didn’t consult them. Instead, she adopted a sensational interpretation of a secondary source (the Guardian), which had already been corrected. That’s not leadership — it’s panic without proof.
Why this matters to Vermonters
- Public trust: As our voice in Washington, Balint should be grounding her warnings in evidence, not alarmist headlines. When an elected official circulates debunked narratives, she undermines public trust.
- Transparency: Genuine investigative journalism digs into the actual bylaws, official statements, and first-party policy documents. Too often, that nuance is missed in viral videos.
- Political accountability: Representatives owe it to their constituents to bring accurate information into public discourse. If a story turns out to be false, stepping forward to correct the record is the responsible path — and one we didn’t see here. Better yet, get the facts right first.
The short shading on the facts
- The wording change in the VA bylaws did happen — but it affects all political affiliations equally and replaces specific protection listings, without nullifying them.
- No veteran has reported being turned away from VA care because of political orientation or marital status.
- VA leadership has publicly assured veterans — again — that care will not be withheld for partisan reasons.
Closing thought
In moments like this, it’s more than rhetoric — it’s civic responsibility. Balint, with access to the VA’s primary policy documents and official comments, spoke on behalf of Vermonters without verifying the facts. That’s a failure of her judgment, not just a misstep. We deserve better than fear-based talking points drawn from video soundbites and clickbait stories — and we expect our representatives to lead with substance, not sensationalism.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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