WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – led a committee hearing today to review the mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) with whistleblower and former Lead Auditor at the VCL, Brad Combs; former VCL responder, Marcia Blane and staff from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and VA.

“My expectation is Secretary Collins will hold accountable the individuals within the department who were responsible for both the mismanagement at the Veterans Crisis Line and any attempted cover-up of these troubling issues,” said Sen. Moran. “The Veterans Crisis Line is a critical tool for veterans at immediate risk of suicide. The members of this committee, as well as VA leadership, must make certain America’s veterans and their family members can depend on this valuable resource.”

In November 2023, Sen. Moran requested that the GAO audit the VCL following VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) findings of VCL mismanagement. Sen. Moran’s request was informed by OIG’s description of VCL failures before a veteran suicide and in its aftermath, as well as subsequent alarming whistleblower disclosures from former VCL Lead Auditor, Brad Combs, and additional VCL employees. GAO published its audit on June 25, 2025, which confirmed that serious issues at VCL went unaddressed.

Chairman Moran’s questions can be found here & here.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Opening Statement

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