Senate Committee Hearings Deliberate on Key VA and Military Claims Appointments

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held hearings on September 27, 2026, where nominees for key veterans positions were questioned. The nominees included Robert Fleck, deputy general counsel at the VA, David Jones, and Daniel Rendleman, who are candidates for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). The committee also considered candidates for the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), including former U.S. Attorney and retired Army Lt. Col. Maria Chapa Lopez. Bill Cassidy participated in this session.

BVA and CAVC are the two highest legal bodies that rule on disputed military benefits. The committee scrutinized the nominees' qualifications given the current challenges facing the VA, such as aggressive budget cuts, hiring freezes, and a mass exodus of senior leadership.