Are Veterans Better Off Under Trump or Biden?
As the 2020 presidential election came to a close, many veterans were left wondering which candidate would be better for their community. Donald Trump, the incumbent Republican president, had been in office for four years, and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, was promising significant changes to the way the government treats its veterans. In this article, we’ll examine the key issues affecting veterans and compare the policies of Trump and Biden to determine which candidate is better for veterans.
Healthcare
One of the most pressing concerns for veterans is access to quality healthcare. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has faced numerous scandals and criticisms over the years, including long wait times, mismanagement, and inadequate care. Trump’s administration has taken steps to address these issues, including:
- Expanding private care options: Trump signed the VA Mission Act in 2018, which allows veterans to receive care from private healthcare providers if they face long wait times or if the VA is unable to provide the necessary care.
- Increasing funding: Trump has increased funding for the VA, including a 15% increase in 2020, to address the backlog of claims and improve healthcare services.
Biden, on the other hand, has proposed:
- Improving VA care: Biden has pledged to improve VA care by increasing funding, hiring more healthcare professionals, and expanding access to mental health services.
- Allowing veterans to choose their own healthcare providers: Biden has proposed allowing veterans to choose their own healthcare providers, rather than being limited to VA facilities.
Benefits and Compensation
Veterans are also concerned about their benefits and compensation. Trump’s administration has taken steps to:
- Increase disability compensation: Trump has increased disability compensation for veterans, including a 3.1% increase in 2020.
- Streamline the claims process: Trump has implemented reforms to streamline the claims process, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to reduce the backlog of claims.
Biden has proposed:
- Increasing disability compensation: Biden has pledged to increase disability compensation for veterans, including a 10% increase in the first year.
- Improving the claims process: Biden has proposed improving the claims process by hiring more claims processors and increasing funding for the VA.
Housing and Homelessness
Veterans are also struggling with housing and homelessness. Trump’s administration has taken steps to:
- Increase funding for homeless veterans: Trump has increased funding for homeless veterans, including a 12% increase in 2020.
- Implement the Supportive Housing Program: Trump has implemented the Supportive Housing Program, which provides permanent supportive housing and services to homeless veterans.
Biden has proposed:
- Increasing funding for homeless veterans: Biden has pledged to increase funding for homeless veterans, including a 20% increase in the first year.
- Implementing the Housing First approach: Biden has proposed implementing the Housing First approach, which prioritizes providing permanent housing to homeless veterans and then providing supportive services to help them stay housed.
Education and Employment
Veterans are also concerned about their education and employment opportunities. Trump’s administration has taken steps to:
- Increase funding for the GI Bill: Trump has increased funding for the GI Bill, which provides education benefits to veterans.
- Implement the Veterans Employment Initiative: Trump has implemented the Veterans Employment Initiative, which provides training and employment services to veterans.
Biden has proposed:
- Increasing funding for the GI Bill: Biden has pledged to increase funding for the GI Bill, including a 20% increase in the first year.
- Implementing the Veterans Employment and Training Service: Biden has proposed implementing the Veterans Employment and Training Service, which provides job training and placement services to veterans.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Trump and Biden have proposed significant changes to the way the government treats its veterans. While Trump’s administration has taken steps to address some of the key issues affecting veterans, including healthcare and benefits, Biden’s proposals may be more comprehensive and effective in addressing the needs of veterans.
Table: Comparison of Trump and Biden’s Proposals
| Issue | Trump | Biden |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Expanding private care options, increasing funding | Improving VA care, allowing veterans to choose their own healthcare providers |
| Benefits and Compensation | Increasing disability compensation, streamlining claims process | Increasing disability compensation, improving claims process |
| Housing and Homelessness | Increasing funding for homeless veterans, implementing Supportive Housing Program | Increasing funding for homeless veterans, implementing Housing First approach |
| Education and Employment | Increasing funding for GI Bill, implementing Veterans Employment Initiative | Increasing funding for GI Bill, implementing Veterans Employment and Training Service |
Recommendation
Based on the analysis above, it is clear that both Trump and Biden have proposed significant changes to the way the government treats its veterans. However, Biden’s proposals may be more comprehensive and effective in addressing the needs of veterans. Therefore, we recommend that veterans vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Additional Resources
- Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). VA Mission Act.
- Biden, J. (2020). Biden’s Plan to Support Our Nation’s Veterans.
- Trump, D. (2020). Trump’s Plan to Support Our Nation’s Veterans.
