Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s Efforts To Strip Away Health Care Benefits From Veterans Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxic Substances

Feb 26, 2025
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, author of the burn pits section of thePACT Act, issued the following statement about President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to cancel contracts for the PACT Act Enterprise Program Management Office as a part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) funding cuts. The bipartisanSergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Actwas signed into law in 2022. The historic legislation established a presumptive service connection to certain illnesses for service members and veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins, eliminating many obstacles they had to go through to receive crucial health care and benefits.
In August 2024, Gillibrand announced that more than 1 million veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins have been awarded care and benefits through the PACT Act. It is estimated that roughly 3.5 million military personnel could have been exposed to burn pits and are eligible to receive benefits.
“The PACT Act ensures access to critical health care for the millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving abroad. This bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, demonstrating that Congress understood its responsibility to care for our veterans as they battle diseases related to their service,”said Senator Gillibrand.“It is outrageous that President Trump and Elon Musk would cancel funded contracts that enable proper implementation of the PACT Act. This important work ensures that eligible veterans are tracked and also monitors implementation so that veterans get the health care and benefits they earned. I am calling on them to immediately reverse these cuts.”
Gillibrand first introduced the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act in September 2020, alongside a bicameral group that included Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), comedian Jon Stewart, activist John Feal, and a strong coalition of veterans service organizations. The group introduced an updated, bipartisan version in the spring of 2021 together with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). In May 2022, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran announced a bipartisan deal on toxic exposure legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Gillibrand’s Presumptive Benefits bill formed the cornerstone of the presumptive care section of the final package. The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11 and was signed into law by President Biden on August 10th, 2022.
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