President-elect Donald Trump has picked former Georgia congressman Doug Collins to lead the Veterans Affairs Department in his new administration
ATLANTA -- President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday his intention to appoint Doug Collins to lead the Veterans Affairs Department in his administration.
Here are five key facts about the former Georgia congressman who is poised to oversee the agency responsible for providing healthcare and support to U.S. veterans:
1. Military and Religious Background:
Collins, 58, holds a master’s degree in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and spent 11 years as a pastor. He served as a U.S. Navy chaplain for two years in the late 1980s and later joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a chaplain after the September 11 attacks. In 2008, Collins deployed to Iraq for five months, serving at Balad Air Force Base. He remains a colonel in the Air Force Reserve. In addition to his military service, Collins became a lawyer later in life.
2. State Legislative Career:
Elected to the Georgia State House in 2007, Collins served three terms, including one as a floor leader for Governor Nathan Deal. During his tenure, he played a key role in preserving the HOPE Scholarship program, ensuring continued college tuition funding amidst financial concerns.
3. Congressional Role:
Collins won a seat in Congress in 2012, representing Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, one of the most conservative in the nation. Despite his right-wing positions, he faced primary challenges from Republicans who questioned his conservatism. In Congress, Collins rose to vice chair of the House Republican Conference, securing a spot in GOP leadership.
4. High-Profile Trump Ally:
Collins gained national attention as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee during the Mueller investigation and Trump’s first impeachment. He authored a book, *The Clock and the Calendar,* defending Trump and accusing Democrats of pursuing impeachment to undermine his presidency.
5. Political Setbacks and Future Prospects:
In 2019, Trump was reportedly disappointed when Collins wasn’t appointed to the U.S. Senate after Johnny Isakson’s resignation, with Georgia’s governor selecting Kelly Loeffler instead. Collins ran for the Senate in 2020 but finished third in a special election, trailing Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock. He later joined Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results in Georgia and became the Georgia chair of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute. While Collins has hinted at a potential political return, his nomination for Veterans Affairs secretary could shift his focus away from future campaigns, including the 2026 Senate race when Jon Ossoff’s seat will be contested.
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