DNC Veterans & Military Families Council Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2 – March 15, 2026
Co-Chairs Notes
Welcome to the second issue of the DNC Veterans & Military Families Council Newsletter!
We are proud to bring you the second issue of this newsletter, continuing our effort to strengthen our connection with veterans, service members, caregivers, and military families across the country. Our community is built on service – not just in uniform, but through continued leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement long after the uniform comes off. This newsletter will serve as a regular source of updates from the Council, highlight issues affecting our community, and help ensure that the voices of those who have borne the battle – and their families – are heard clearly within the Democratic Party and beyond.
In this second issue, you’ll find that Facts Matter when considering the US’s undeclared war against Iran. We’ve also included important information about our upcoming April meeting in New Orleans as we gather for the DNC Spring Meeting, including scheduling updates and RSVP details. We report on a positive development regarding the Trump administration’s attack on federal employees who care for our Veterans, and celebrate our First Amendment’s triumph over malicious Department of Justice. And finally, a quick reminder that the VMFC has joined Bluesky, giving us another platform to connect, share updates, and engage with veterans, service members, and military families.
Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to this community. We are proud to stand with you in the effort to keep veterans and military families at the forefront of our nation’s priorities. We are stronger when we stand together.
Rachel Vindman & Joe Stutler, Co-Chairs
Facts Matter
We’re halfway through March and, as of today, there are 233 days until the midterm elections.
I don’t have to tell you that your voices matter. You wouldn’t be part of this group if you didn’t already know that. But I hope you also know that the work you do to advocate for veterans and military families across the country truly makes a difference.
Veterans and military families understand the realities of war in ways most Americans never will and that perspective carries real weight in the conversations in our communities today. Because of our experiences, we are uniquely equipped to speak about the politicization of the military and the damage it causes to our national security, to members of our armed services, and to their families.
We also understand the consequences of the disgraceful ways the Veterans Administration is being gutted and how that undermines our nation’s responsibility to care for those who volunteered to serve.
At our last regional coordinators and state directors meeting, Jordanna Mallach (State Director in New York) suggested it would be helpful if we could share more facts and figures that members could use in conversations. I thought that was a great idea. With the ongoing operations in Iran, the Arabian Gulf, and the Middle East more broadly, this seemed like a timely topic and a useful way to begin discussions with people in our communities.
Current Facts on the Conflict:
• 13 U.S. service members lost
• Approximately 150 U.S. service members injured
• 6 KC-135 aircraft destroyed or rendered inoperable
• Roughly $11.3 billion spent in the first week of operations
Those 13 service members include 7 Americans killed in attacks on US forces and bases in the region and 6 airmen killed in the crash of a KC-135 aircraft supporting operations.
Many of the injuries occurred during missile and drone attacks on our bases throughout the region.
Given the current administration’s relationship with the truth, it would not be surprising if the situation is even worse than what has been publicly reported.
In financial terms, the cost of the conflict has been significant even in its early stages. Early estimates indicate the first week of military operations cost roughly $11.3 billion.
For most of us, numbers that large don’t feel real. I find it helpful to think about them in terms that are easier to relate to.
Putting the Costs in Perspective
• One week of war spending (~$11.3 billion) could fund a full year of health care for more than 1.1 million veterans.
• One day of war spending ($1–2 billion) could fund an entire year of medical care for 100,000–200,000 veterans.
• $11.3 billion could fund long-term nursing home care for more than 160,000 aging veterans for a full year.
• The VA’s Suicide Prevention Program budget is roughly $500 million per year.
◦ One week of war spending could fund that program for more than 20 years.
• The average Tomahawk cruise missile costs about $2 million, and a Patriot interceptor missile can cost around $4 million.
◦ $4 million could fund a full year of mental health care for more than 1,300 veterans.
• Pentagon analysts estimate that replacing munitions used in the early phase of the conflict could cost $20–30 billion.
• $20–30 billion is roughly equal to the cost of building 10–20 new VA medical centers across the United States.
These comparisons are not meant to diminish the importance of national defense. We understand better than most that defending our nation requires significant resources, and we want our service members to have the best equipment available.
But we also know something equally important: our nation’s commitment to those who serve does not end when they hang up their uniforms. We understand both the cost of war includes taking care of those who serve.
The VA health system provides care to over 9 million veterans every year. Ensuring that system remains strong should not be a partisan issue. Rather, it is a matter of honoring the commitments we made to those who stood up to serve.
Veterans and military family members must help lead and shape this conversation. Democrats have long believed that strong national defense and strong support for veterans must go hand in hand. Especially at this moment, veterans and military families bring a unique moral authority to discussions about the operations in Iran. Polling shows that most Americans oppose US military action in Iran which makes our voices especially relevant.
We have a responsibility to share our stories and the experiences of our community with people who may not be as well-informed or politically active as we are.
As always, thank you for all you do. It is an honor to serve alongside you.
April Meeting – Big Easy Bound
We are excited to see you in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the next DNC Meeting taking place April 9-11, 2026, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. As we are planning ahead, we want to share a few updates as we head into the Spring Meeting.
The VMFC meeting is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. Day and time subject to change. You can find the tentative schedule for the Spring 2026 DNC Meeting here. A finalized agenda is forthcoming. We also kindly ask that you RSVP and let us know whether or not you will be attending the upcoming meeting so we can better plan for your arrival. Please let us know if you will be attending using this form.
For a recap of our December 2025 meeting in Los Angeles, go here.
If you are planning to join us, please click here to secure your hotel reservation at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and to access an exclusive discounted rate of $239/night (plus tax).
Court Orders Restoration of VA Union Contract;
Veterans Advocates Say Decision Protects Care for Those Who Served
A federal court has ordered the restoration of the collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), reinstating workplace protections and bargaining rights for thousands of VA employees represented by the union.
The ruling restores the previously negotiated contract covering VA workers represented by AFGE, one of the largest unions representing federal employees. Union leaders said the decision ensures that front line staff who provide care and services to veterans can continue to advocate for workplace conditions that support high-quality patient care.
Members of the Democratic National Committee’s Veterans & Military Families Council (VMFC) welcomed the decision, saying that protecting the workers who serve veterans ultimately helps protect veterans themselves.
Advocates say collective bargaining agreements play a key role in ensuring that VA employees can raise concerns about staffing levels, patient safety, and working conditions without fear of retaliation. Those protections, they argue, contribute to a more stable workforce and better care for the millions of veterans who rely on the VA system.
Joe Stutler, a disabled combat veteran who served in the Gulf War with the U.S. Army, emphasized the importance of VA caregivers in the lives of veterans. In a recent interview with The Gazette, Stutler spoke about the essential role VA workers play in supporting those who have served.
“Alex was one of our caretakers,” Stutler said. “All of these AFGE folks, they take care of me, they take care of me and countless other veterans who have served our nation. These people deserve a lot more than what this particular administration is giving them. … I raised my hand and said I was willing to die for this country. The least I can get is you not killing the folks that take care of me.”
Veterans advocates say the court’s decision underscores the connection between protecting workers and protecting the quality of care veterans receive. The VMFC said it will continue supporting policies that strengthen both the VA workforce and the care provided to the nation’s veterans.
Dropped Flag-Burning Case Affirms Constitution Over Political Retaliation
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Veterans & Military Families Council (VMFC) welcomes the dismissal of federal charges against a military veteran arrested after burning an American flag near the White House, calling the outcome a reaffirmation of constitutional freedoms and a rebuke to what a
dvocates describe as politically motivated prosecution.
According to reporting by NBC News and The Guardian, the United States Department of Justice dropped charges against veteran Jan “Jay” Carey, who burned an American flag during a protest in Lafayette Square earlier this year. The case drew national attention after federal prosecutors pursued charges despite longstanding Supreme Court precedent protecting flag burning as political speech.
The Supreme Court established that protection in the landmark decision Texas v. Johnson, which held that burning the American flag as part of a political protest is constitutionally protected expression under the First Amendment.
Members of the VMFC said the dismissal underscores a principle that many veterans understand deeply: the oath taken by service members is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the freedoms it guarantees – not to enforce loyalty to any political leader or symbol.
Council members also expressed concern that the prosecution moved forward at all. Advocates say the case appeared to follow directives from the Trump administration urging aggressive prosecution of individuals who burn the American flag, despite clear constitutional precedent protecting such acts as political expression.
From the council’s perspective, the attempted prosecution represented an alarming example of government overreach and the use of the justice system to punish political dissent. Veterans advocates say such actions undermine the very freedoms service members are sworn to defend.
The VMFC noted that the First Amendment does not protect only popular speech. In fact, its purpose is to protect speech that some people may find uncomfortable, controversial, or offensive – especially when those in power would prefer to silence it.
For veterans who have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution, the council said the dismissal represents a clear reaffirmation that constitutional rights cannot be overridden by political pressure or personal offense.
In the end, the VMFC said, the outcome serves as a reminder of a simple truth: the Constitution is stronger than any politician’s bruised feelings – and that’s exactly how it should be.
The Sky Is…..Blue‽
The sky is …..blue‽ It sure is – and now so are we! The Veterans & Military Families Council has officially joined the platform, and we’re excited to connect with veterans, service members, military families, and advocates in a whole new space. Follow us for updates, stories, and action focused on supporting those who have worn the uniform – and the families who stand beside them. Are you on Bluesky? Join us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/dncvmfc.org and stay connected.
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