On February 23, 2026, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States proudly signed onto a joint Statement for the Record submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, expressing strong opposition to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ recently issued Interim Final Rule (IFR) on disability evaluation and compensation reform.
The joint letter, signed by more than 40 veteran and military advocacy organizations, urged Congress to exercise oversight authority and called for immediate rescission of the IFR. While the organizations acknowledge that thoughtful reform of the VA disability system can be appropriate and necessary, the letter makes clear that reform must be transparent, veteran-centric, evidence-driven, and developed through proper notice-and-comment rule-making.
The statement outlines serious concerns that the Interim Final Rule appears aimed at generating cost savings rather than improving outcomes for disabled veterans. It further argues that the VA failed to meet the standard required under the Administrative Procedure Act to bypass the traditional rule-making process. The coalition also raised concerns about the Department’s announced “pause in enforcement,” noting that such action does not resolve the underlying legal and policy instability created by the rule.
Instead, the organizations—including EANGUS—called for rescission of the IFR and replacement with a formal Notice of Proposed Rule-making that includes meaningful stakeholder engagement, transparent justification, and sufficient time for public comment.
This effort demonstrates the power of membership. When organizations unite, representing hundreds of thousands of service members, retirees, and veterans, our collective voice carries weight. EANGUS’ ability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with leading national VSOs ensures that National Guard members are represented in major policy decisions affecting disability compensation and long-term veteran well-being.
Advocacy at this level is not possible without engaged members. Your membership strengthens our seat at the table, amplifies our voice on Capitol Hill, and ensures that reforms impacting Guardsmen and veterans are scrutinized carefully and thoughtfully.
Together, we remain committed to protecting earned benefits and advancing policies that place veterans first.
