Senators grilled President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tuesday. Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) promised to be veterans’ biggest advocate if confirmed as the VA secretary.

Sen. Angus King told Trump's nominee that the newly implemented hiring freeze of the federal workforce should not apply to direct-care workers. Doug Collins said he'll make sure that veterans have access to the care they need but did not commit to pursuing exceptions to the hiring freeze.

Doug Collins, President Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, promised Tuesday that the agency would not assist with migrant healthcare under his leadership. The former Georgia congressman appeared before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing Tuesday after being nominated to lead the agency by President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump has moved quickly to remake the Department of Homeland Security by firing the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard before their terms are up while eliminating all the members of a key aviation security advisory group.

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan testifies during a House Homeland Security Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 14, 2022.