BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front):
Cheryl Mason—seasoned VA insider, former chief of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and current right‑hand to VA Secretary Doug Collins—has been tapped to become the next Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The nomination drops into a battlefield already peppered with political artillery: a pending lawsuit over January’s mass firing of IGs, and sharp incoming fire from lawmakers who want an independent watchdog, not a perceived insider.
The SITREP
Who’s on point?
Cheryl Mason
- Joined the VA ranks back in 1990.
- Wore the veterans‑law‑judge hat before taking command of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (2017‑2022).
- Pinned on senior‑adviser rank to Secretary Collins this February.
- Already queued up for another billet—Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection—when this new nomination hit the wire.
Why it matters:
- The VA’s IG seat has been vacant since January, when President Donald Trump sacked Michael Missal along with a dozen other IGs.
- Hill leadership—especially Senate VA Committee Chair Sen. Jerry Moran (R‑KS)—has been sounding the klaxon for a replacement ever since.
Capitol Hill Cross‑Fire
- Moran’s Mission: During Collins’ first congressional debrief since his own confirmation hearing, Moran pressed hard: “When’s the IG coming?” Collins replied that the VA is “ready and waiting” for the White House to lock it in.
- Blumenthal’s Broadside: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT) called Mason “the wrong choice,” arguing the Inspector General must be fiercely independent. He accused Mason of muzzling VA staff with NDAs—hardly the “watchdog off the leash” vibe Congress expects
Legal Minefield
Eight ousted IGs have a lawsuit in motion, claiming their pink slips violated federal law requiring 30‑days’ notice to Congress. They want their badges back—and back pay—but a federal judge signaled reinstatement is a long shot, even if the firings prove unlawful.
The Road Ahead
Mason, a military spouse and leadership author, now faces Senate confirmation. Expect rigorous questioning on her ability to call balls and strikes against the very command she’s been advising. If confirmed, she’ll need to hit the ground running—rifle‑ready to root out waste, fraud, and abuse while proving she can patrol without political leash.
Bottom line, warriors: Keep your eyes on the Senate hearing schedule. Until the dust settles, the VA’s watchdog post remains unoccupied—and veterans deserve a guard dog, not a lapdog.
