We’re losing four members of Congress with serious military experience, and that’s going to leave a hole in key defense oversight committees. We’re talking about people like Rep. Don Bacon and Sen. Joni Ernst, who’ve both worn the uniform. Here’s why that’s a big deal.
Key Takeaways
- Four members of Congress with military backgrounds, including Rep. Don Bacon and Sen. Joni Ernst, are leaving, creating a knowledge vacuum on military oversight committees.
- The 2026 elections will bring new people to these committees which will almost certainly change legislative priorities for veterans’ affairs and defense spending.
- Whoever replaces them must quickly learn the ins and outs of defense budgeting and strategic planning to effectively oversee the Department of Defense and veterans’ programs.
- This shake-up is both a challenge and an opportunity for veterans’ advocacy groups, who now have to educate a new class of lawmakers to get legislation passed.
- Without strong oversight, you can’t have accountability in military operations or properly support the well-being of our service members and veterans.
When people with real-world experience walk away from jobs as important as military oversight, it leaves a gap. These are individuals who get the subtleties of defense policy, the realities of military life, and what veterans actually need because they’ve been there. Their departure means a huge amount of institutional knowledge and perspective is walking right out the door, and that’s a problem for anyone who cares about how our military is managed and our veterans are treated.
You’d think the solution is simple, new members just step up. But it’s not that easy. The committees they’re leaving, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, are wrestling with colossal budgets and complex strategic decisions. The Department of Defense’s budget for fiscal year 2026 is going to be hundreds of billions of dollars, a number that demands more than a casual glance. New members, however well-meaning, are facing a steep learning curve. This is the core challenge for the veterans’ community: finding people who can hit the ground running on everything from arcane procurement processes to the healthcare needs of our returning troops.
What Went Wrong First: The Gap in Expertise
When seasoned lawmakers like Representative Don Bacon and Senator Joni Ernst leave, the immediate problem is the brain drain. For years, they’ve been central to shaping defense policy. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, brought direct experience with air power and strategic planning to the table. Ernst, a retired Iowa Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, provided perspective on ground operations and the unique struggles of National Guard members. Their contributions came from years of actual service. Without that specific expertise, you run the risk of critical details getting missed or the whole legislative process slowing down.
The typical Washington fix is to just lean on staff or hope general legislative experience is enough, but that rarely works. Staffers are essential, but they don’t have the authority or the lived experience of a member who has served. And while general legislative skill is good to have, it’s no substitute for a deep, firsthand understanding of military readiness, the VA healthcare system, or complex international defense pacts. Relying on generalists instead of people with specific military know-how can lead to weaker oversight and policies that, while well-intentioned, create unintended consequences because they weren’t vetted by someone who truly gets the military world.
Who Could Inherit Military Oversight
Losing people like Senator Joni Ernst and Representative Don Bacon is a big deal. Ernst, a combat veteran, has been a major voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, held important roles on the House side. Their exits open up spots that will be filled by new legislators. Some might have military experience, but others will have to get up to speed fast. As Military.com put it, the question of “who could inherit military oversight” is now a pressing concern.
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New members have a mountain to climb. They’ll be expected to understand everything from the tangled mess of defense acquisition to the fine print of veterans’ benefits. It’s about getting in the weeds, engaging with military leaders, understanding a constantly shifting geopolitical map, and fighting for the people who serve. It’s a demanding job, and the quality of their oversight directly impacts our military’s readiness and the well-being of service members and veterans.
For those of us in the veterans’ community, this transition is a critical window. We have to be proactive and educate new committee members on the issues that actually matter. That means everything from making sure the Department of Veterans Affairs gets the funding it needs to tackling veteran homelessness and mental health crises. The legislative agenda for veterans is always packed, so having strong, informed advocates in Congress is non-negotiable. I’ve seen how a single, well-timed question in a committee hearing can spark real change for veterans.
The departure of Representative Jared Golden, a former Marine, also creates a significant void. His combat experience gave him a unique and powerful perspective during debates on military force and veteran care. Having someone in the room who understands the real-world consequences of conflict is invaluable when Congress is talking about defense budgets or intervention. The challenge now is finding new people who can bring that same kind of grounded perspective to the discussion.
The Path Forward for Veterans’ Advocacy
This congressional shift creates a clear challenge and a hidden opportunity for veterans’ advocacy groups. The challenge is obvious: we’re losing established relationships and the deep understanding that came with them. The opportunity is the chance to build new connections and educate the next crop of lawmakers. This requires deliberate, sustained engagement.
Our job is to make sure the new members taking over these oversight roles are fully briefed on the most urgent issues veterans face. This includes the ongoing fight to get full benefits for toxic exposure, like under the PACT Act, and making sure the VA is staffed and funded to meet the huge demand for its services. This is a moral obligation, plain and simple. We need to do this through direct outreach, giving them hard data, and sharing the personal stories of veterans.
This means working with organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion, which already have the networks and lobbying power in place. They can give new members critical context and connect them with veteran constituents back home. It’s about building actual relationships. I always tell people, if you want to make a difference, you have to show up, tell your story, and bring solutions. We can’t just expect new members to absorb the complexity of veterans’ issues on their own. How well this engagement goes will directly affect the quality of life for millions of veterans, so we have to get it right.
If we do this effectively, we can maintain a strong voice for veterans in Congress. When new members are properly informed and committed, they can push for legislation that meets critical needs, whether that means more funding for mental health, a simpler disability claims process, or better education programs for transitioning service members. The best way to honor the work of people like Senator Ernst and Representative Bacon is to make sure the next generation of leaders continues their work with the same dedication. We can’t afford to lose the momentum we’ve built on veterans’ programs over years of hard-fought advocacy.
The departing members have left a big mark on military oversight. Their experience, from the battlefield to the committee room, has been critical. Now, that responsibility falls to a new group of lawmakers. For the veterans’ community, our role is clear: we need to educate, advocate, and make sure the voices of those who served are heard loud and clear. The work continues, and the stakes for our veterans are as high as ever.
Why does having military experience on these committees matter?
Having been there, done that gives lawmakers a firsthand grasp of defense operations, strategic planning, and what life is really like for service members and veterans. That practical knowledge is essential for making smart decisions on defense policy, budgets, and veterans’ affairs.
Which committees are we talking about here?
The big ones are the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. They’re the main bodies in charge of military oversight, authorizing what the military can do, and approving its funding.
How can veterans’ groups actually get through to new members?
By getting in front of them directly. Advocacy groups need to give them detailed briefings on the real issues, share veterans’ stories, and work with them on legislation. Building solid relationships and showing up with clear, data-backed solutions is how you get things done.
What are the top priorities for veterans’ advocates right now?
The big issues are ensuring full toxic exposure benefits (like with the PACT Act), getting proper funding for the VA, fighting veteran homelessness and the mental health crisis, and making sure there’s strong support for troops transitioning back to civilian life.
What’s the long-term risk of this change in Congress?
The long-term risk is a shift in priorities, a different attitude toward defense spending, and a period where new committee members are scrambling to gain the expertise needed for effective oversight of our military and veterans’ programs.
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