ICYMI: Leader Hakeem Jeffries Joins U.S. Representative Derek Tran for Roundtable Discussion with Veterans, Local Leaders

Buena Park, CA - In case you missed it, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) joined U.S. Representatives Derek Tran (CA-45) and Lou Correa (CA-46), local elected officials, and community representatives from Veteran service organizations (VSOs) for a discussion about the Trump Administration's broken promises to care for those who have served our country. The lawmakers heard the unique challenges facing Veterans and service members, and highlighted their efforts to support troops in Orange County and across the country.

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"This Administration is failing our Veterans. Thousands of Veteran federal employees have been wrongfully fired. Critical VA benefits and services have been gutted. And now President Trump is threatening another forever war in the Middle East," said Representative Tran. "When our service members come home, they shouldn't be facing long wait times, delayed benefits, and broken promises. Their families shouldn't be left wondering if they're going to have health insurance or a roof over their head. Our Veterans deserve more than our words of gratitude - they deserve action and support."

"The Trump administration chose right out of the gate to go after the VA, to fire thousands of veterans who were part of the federal workforce and to cut back services our veterans depend on to live their lives as civilians with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Shame on Donald Trump for engaging in that type of egregious behavior while pretending as though his administration is standing up to cherish our veterans," said Leader Jeffries. "House Democrats know our most significant, sacred responsibility is to make sure that we are taking care of the veterans who have taken care of America. We will continue to fight hard to lower the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system and ensure that veterans are able to receive their hard-earned benefits."

"Servicemembers, veterans, and their families have made major sacrifices for our country, and the federal government has an obligation to take care of them. Recent events-including ICE's inhumane deportations and arrests of veterans and their families-have shown the federal government is not fulfilling that obligation, and we need to demand better," said Representative Correa. "I am optimistic that Gypsum Canyon, Orange County's first veterans cemetery, received bipartisan support in getting approval, and I appreciate Leader Jeffries' supporting our Orange County veterans."

The discussion focused on topics including:

• Efforts by Representative Tran, Representative Correa, and California State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) to advance construction of the Veteran Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon and the profound impact its completion would have on Orange County's community of over 100,000 Veterans.
• The effects of funding cuts to critical Veteran benefits and services, from health care to academic, personal, and professional support for student Veterans at on-campus Veteran Resource Centers.
• Efforts to deliver justice for Veterans and their families who have been wrongfully targeted by ICE.
• President Trump's war in Iran, without consultation from Congress, which has already resulted in the death of seven American service members and the injury of over 140 service members.

An Army Veteran, Representative Tran is dedicated to expanding protections and benefits for Veterans in Washington. The first bill Tran introduced in Congress was H.R. 1637, the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, to restore the livelihoods of Veterans wrongfully fired from their civil service positions. In September 2025, Tran's bipartisan Delivering Digitally for our Veterans Act, which aims to streamline the administration of Veterans' educational benefits through the G.I. Bill,unanimously passed the House. Tran has also been a vocal advocateof Orange County's first-ever Veteran cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, and signed twolettersurging federal support for its construction.

Following offensive U.S. military actions against Iran conducted without Congressional oversight in February 2026, Tran voted in favor of a Congressional war powers resolutionreaffirming that Congress, not the executive branch, reserves the right to declare war.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.