The Playbook: How They’re Attacking Veterans Benefits (And Why It Matters for Everyone)
The Gist
Between October 5 and November 6, 2025, coordinated attacks targeted VA disability ($163B program), SSDI ($82B in cuts), and Medicaid ($880B-$1.1T in cuts) - over $1 trillion in cuts to disabled Americans. During the same period, defense spending increased $150B, ICE budget tripled to $30B, and tax cuts cost $4T. Veterans are the test case: if they can convince America that veterans with service-connected disabilities are gaming the system, they can apply that logic to anyone. This article documents the 11 messaging tactics being used across all three programs, how to recognize them, and how to counter them with facts. The VA Inspector General reports fraud at 0.007% - this isn’t about fraud, it’s about budget priorities.
Comments are open. Add tactics I missed, share how you’ve countered these arguments, or challenge anything here. This is a working document for organizing.
TL;DR: Between October and November 2025, coordinated attacks targeted veterans benefits, SSDI, and Medicaid - $1+ trillion in cuts to disabled Americans while defense spending increased $150B and tax cuts cost $4T. Veterans are the test case. This is the playbook they’re using, the tactics to watch for, and how to counter them with facts.
Why Veterans Are the Test Case
Let me be direct about what’s happening: Veterans are being used as the opening move in a coordinated assault on the entire social safety net.
Here’s why we’re first:
Maximum Protection: Veterans have stronger political protection than almost any other group. Cutting veteran benefits is politically risky.
Maximum Moral Authority: If they can convince America that veterans - who earned benefits through military service - are “fraudsters gaming the system,” they can apply that logic to anyone.
Social Security Disability recipients? Less protected than veterans.
Medicaid beneficiaries? Even less protected.
Medicare recipients? You have less moral authority than we do.
The strategy is simple: Start with the hardest target. If you can successfully undermine support for veteran benefits, everything else becomes easier.
The 30-Day Coordination Timeline
Here’s what happened in a single month. These are documented facts, not speculation:
October 5, 2025: Trump administration budget proposes SSDI cuts ($82 billion)
Source: NPR
October 6, 2025: Washington Post publishes first article characterizing VA disability claims as “dubious”
October 29, 2025: Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing featuring testimony that disability compensation “robs veterans of purpose”
November 5, 2025: Washington Post publishes follow-up article on “unregulated industry” coaching veterans
Note: References Combat Craig throughout, who died in September - proving article was pre-written and held for strategic release
November 5-6, 2025: Medicaid cuts proposed ($880B-$1.1T affecting 8.7 million people)
November 11, 2025: Daniel Gade does “damage control” interview on veteran YouTube channels
That’s not coincidence. That’s coordination.
Three different benefit programs. Same 30-day window. Similar messaging tactics. Same underlying narrative: “The system is being gamed and needs radical reform.”
The Money Trail
Before we dive into the tactics, let’s talk about money. Because the “we can’t afford it” argument is central to this campaign.
What they’re cutting:
VA Disability Compensation: $163 billion (total program)
SSDI: $82 billion proposed cuts
Medicaid: $880B-$1.1 trillion proposed cuts
Total cuts to disabled Americans: $1+ trillion
What they’re spending:
Defense increase FY2026: $150 billion (13% raise)
ICE budget tripling: $30 billion in FY2026 (from $10.4B in FY2025)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extension: $4 trillion
Total new spending: $4+ trillion
The math is simple: They’re not cutting benefits because we can’t afford them. They’re cutting benefits to pay for tax cuts and increased enforcement spending.
The 11 Tactics They’re Using
Regardless of your politics, you need to understand the playbook. These tactics appear across ALL the benefit cut campaigns - veterans, SSDI, Medicaid. Learn to recognize them.
Tactic 1: “The System is Being Gamed”
What they say: Widespread fraud is swamping the system.
The documented reality:
VA OIG reports fraud rate of 0.007% (not 7%, not 0.7% - 0.007%)
Source: VA OIG Testimony, Oct 29, 2025
The Inspector General’s entire job is finding fraud - they say it’s negligible
Why it works: Makes legitimate claimants defensive, shifts burden of proof from accusers to beneficiaries.
Counter with facts: “VA OIG reports fraud at 0.007%. The Inspector General actively looks for fraud and finds almost none. Where’s the crisis?”
Tactic 2: “Look at the Growth!”
What they say: Program costs have exploded, proving abuse.
The documented reality:
Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 changed how VA processes claims, leading to increased filings and appeals
VA disability compensation grew from 2001 baseline (chosen deliberately after the Claims Assistance Act)
2001-2021: 20 years of continuous warfare (Afghanistan, Iraq)
PACT Act: Congress expanded coverage for toxic exposure - a policy choice, not fraud
Medical advances mean service members survive injuries that would have been fatal in previous wars, creating fewer KIAs and more disabled veterans
Source: VBA Annual Benefits Report
Why it works: Big numbers sound scary without context. Ignores legal changes, 20 years of war, and medical advances that save lives.
Counter with facts: “The 2001 baseline ignores the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 that changed claim processing. We then fought two decades of war with medical advances that save lives but create disabilities. Growth reflects legal changes, service, and medical progress - not fraud.”
Tactic 3: “Influencers and Companies Are Coaching Fraud”
What they say: YouTube/TikTok influencers and paid companies teach veterans to fake claims.
The documented reality:
Helping veterans understand complex systems isn’t fraud
There ARE predatory “claims sharks” who charge percentage-based fees, promise doctors who will write anything, or coach veterans to lie - these are the actual problem
There are also legitimate paid services that charge flat fees to review records and advise on legal next steps (like lawyers and registered claims agents) - these are legal
VSOs provide free help, but there aren’t enough of them and many lack deep knowledge of complex claims law
The VA still requires medical evidence and C&P exams regardless of who helps with paperwork
Getting help filing claims is protected activity under law
Why it works: “Influencer” and “paid service” sound illegitimate, even when providing legal assistance. Lumps legitimate help with actual fraud.
Counter with facts: “Getting help with paperwork isn’t fraud. Yes, there are claims sharks - but lawyers, registered agents, and VSOs all help veterans navigate complex law. The VA still requires medical evidence. Attacking all help because some is predatory leaves veterans with no guidance through a system even Congress acknowledges is broken.”
Tactic 4: “Mental Health Claims Are Unverifiable”
What they say: PTSD and mental health claims can’t be proven, anyone can fake symptoms.
The documented reality:
PTSD requires BOTH verifiable symptoms AND a documented stressor event
DSM-5 Criterion A (Stressor): Must have proof of “Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence” through:
Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others
Learning that traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member/friend (must be violent or accidental)
Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting remains)
The VA must verify the stressor event occurred during service (through service records, deployment records, etc.)
After stressor verification, C&P exams are conducted by licensed clinicians using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
Treatment records are reviewed and considered
Mental health conditions require the same evidence standard as physical injuries: service connection must be proven
Why it works: Stigmatizes invisible injuries, implies they’re not “real” and easy to fake. Plays on existing mental health stigma.
Counter with facts: “PTSD requires proof the traumatic event happened during service, then clinical diagnosis by licensed professionals using DSM-5 criteria. It’s not just ‘I have symptoms’ - the stressor must be documented and service-connected. Mental health has the same evidence requirements as physical injuries.”
Tactic 5: “Benefits Create Dependency”
What they say: Disability compensation prevents veterans from working/thriving.
The documented reality:
Many veterans work while receiving compensation - including Daniel Gade himself
Compensation is for loss of earning capacity, not inability to work
No evidence that compensation causes unemployment
Employment programs and compensation aren’t mutually exclusive
Research shows veterans do better with BOTH employment support AND financial stability
Why it works: Sounds like they care about veteran welfare. Sets up false choice between compensation and employment.
Counter with facts: “Thousands of veterans work while receiving compensation - including the people making this argument. This is compensation for service-connected injuries, not welfare. Treatment and employment programs can exist alongside compensation, not instead of it.”
Tactic 6: “We Need to Focus on Treatment Not Compensation” / “PTSD is Curable”
What they say: Shift resources from compensation to treatment. PTSD and other mental health conditions are curable, so compensation creates dependency instead of recovery.
The documented reality:
The VA’s own National Center for PTSD describes successful PTSD treatment in terms of “remission,” not “cure”
According to VA research, 53 of 100 patients receiving evidence-based therapy “will no longer have PTSD” - but this is remission of symptoms, not permanent cure
With medication, 42 of 100 achieve remission
Source: VA PTSD Research
PTSD treatment helps manage and reduce symptoms; it does not eliminate the condition permanently
VA healthcare and compensation are separate programs with separate funding
You can receive both treatment AND compensation simultaneously
Treatment doesn’t compensate for permanent injuries or ongoing symptoms that affect earning capacity
Cutting compensation doesn’t automatically fund treatment
Financial stability from compensation can actually support treatment engagement
Why it works: Sounds reasonable, sets up false choice between treatment and compensation. Misuses medical terminology to imply veterans just need to “get better.”
Counter with facts: “The VA’s own research describes successful treatment as ‘remission,’ not cure. These are separate programs with separate funding. Treatment helps manage symptoms but doesn’t compensate for lost earning capacity from service-connected injuries. You can receive both.”
Tactic 7: “The Money Has to Come From Somewhere”
What they say: We can’t afford current spending levels, cuts are necessary.
The documented reality:
FY2026 Budget: $150B defense increase (13% raise)
ICE budget alone projected to triple to $30B in FY2026 (from $10.4B in FY2025)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extension: $4 trillion cost
Veteran disability compensation total program: $163 billion
Sources: Defense News, House Appropriations Committee
Why it works: Makes cuts sound fiscally necessary without mentioning increased spending elsewhere. Presents false scarcity.
Counter with facts: “Defense just got $150B increase. ICE budget tripled to $30B. Tax cuts cost $4T. The entire VA disability program is $163B. This isn’t about money - it’s about priorities. If we can afford $4 trillion in tax cuts, we can afford benefits veterans earned through service.”
Tactic 8: “Other Wars Weren’t Like This”
What they say: WWII veterans didn’t claim at these rates.
The documented reality:
WWII vets had different eligibility rules and less comprehensive coverage
Medical advances now save soldiers who would have died (fewer KIAs, more disabled veterans)
Modern warfare involves IEDs, burn pits, repeated deployments with different injury patterns
Comparing different eras ignores medical and warfare evolution
WWII veterans also faced similar accusations of malingering in their time
Why it works: Appeals to “greatest generation” mythology, implies modern veterans are weaker or more dishonest.
Counter with facts: “Modern medicine saves lives that would have been lost in WWII. Comparing different wars with different rules, different medicine, and different warfare is misleading. Should we celebrate that fewer service members die, or attack them for surviving with disabilities?”
Tactic 9: “We’re Helping Veterans by Cutting Benefits”
What they say: Tough love helps veterans move forward.
The documented reality:
No evidence cutting compensation improves outcomes
Veteran suicide rate hasn’t changed despite existing programs
Financial insecurity increases mental health risks
Employment support can exist alongside compensation
Why it works: Frames cuts as compassion, makes opposition seem cruel.
Counter with facts: “Show me the evidence that cutting compensation improves veteran outcomes. Financial insecurity doesn’t cure PTSD - it makes it worse. Where’s the research supporting this ‘tough love’ approach?”
Tactic 10: “VSOs Are Part of the Problem”
What they say: Veterans Service Organizations encourage excessive claims.
The documented reality:
VSOs are chartered by Congress to help with claims
They don’t profit from claim outcomes (unlike percentage-based claims sharks)
They’re staffed by veterans helping veterans
Attacking VSOs removes veterans’ advocates from the process
Why it works: Isolates veterans from institutional support, removes organized opposition.
Counter with facts: “VSOs are congressionally chartered to help veterans navigate VA claims. They don’t profit from outcomes. Attacking them removes our advocates and leaves veterans alone against a complex bureaucracy. Is that the goal?”
Tactic 11: “This is About Accountability”
What they say: We’re just ensuring integrity in the system.
The documented reality:
Inspector General already monitors for fraud (0.007% rate)
GAO conducts regular audits
Oversight mechanisms exist and function
“Accountability” is being used to justify cuts, not fraud prevention
Real accountability would include holding the VA to processing timelines
Why it works: Who can argue against accountability? Makes opposition seem like defending fraud.
Counter with facts: “The IG and GAO already provide oversight and find negligible fraud. If this is about accountability, why aren’t we holding the VA accountable for processing delays? This isn’t about fraud prevention - it’s about justification for cuts.”
Why This Should Terrify Everyone
If you’re reading this and thinking “I’m not a veteran, why should I care?” - pay attention.
The tactics above aren’t unique to veteran benefits. They’re being used simultaneously against:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): $82 billion in proposed cuts
Same “fraud” narrative
Same “growth = abuse” argument
Same attacks on people helping with applications
Medicaid: $880B-$1.1 trillion in proposed cuts
Same “dependency” framing
Same “we can’t afford it” while increasing other spending
Same targeting of the vulnerable
Next up: Medicare, Social Security, unemployment insurance
The strategy is to establish the precedent with veterans. Once the public accepts that even veterans with service-connected disabilities are “gaming the system,” applying that logic to everyone else becomes trivial.
You have less political protection than veterans do. You have less moral authority. If they succeed in cutting veteran benefits, yours are next - and you’ll have even less defense.
What You Can Do
1. Recognize the pattern Don’t look at veterans benefits, SSDI, and Medicaid as separate issues. They’re using the same playbook against all three simultaneously.
2. Contact your representatives
Find yours: https://www.congress.gov/contact-us
Use the sample scripts at the end of this article
Focus on facts: 0.007% fraud rate, $4T in tax cuts, $150B defense increase
3. Amplify on social media Tag journalists and outlets with track records of fair coverage:
Veteran journalists: @patriciakime (Military Times), @leoship (Task & Purpose), @Travis_Tritten (Military.com)
News outlets: @MilitaryTimes, @TaskandPurpose, @thewarhorse, @PBSNewsHour
YouTube channels: @MeidasTouch, @MyGovExpert, @ForbesBreakingNews
Congressional: @HASCDemocrats, @SVACdems
Use hashtags: #VeteransBenefits #VADisability #ProtectVeterans #SupportOurTroops
Share with VSOs: @VFWNational, @DAVHQ, @AmLegion, @IAVA
4. Counter the narrative with facts When you see fraud claims, ask for evidence. When you see growth statistics, ask about context. When you see “we can’t afford it,” ask about tax cuts and defense increases.
5. Understand this affects you Even if you’re not a veteran, disabled, or on Medicaid - this establishes precedent for attacking all social safety net programs. Today it’s veterans. Tomorrow it’s you.
Sample Scripts for Calling Representatives
General script: “Hi, I’m calling about proposals to cut VA disability compensation. The VA Inspector General reports fraud at 0.007% - not a crisis. These are service-connected injuries earned through military service. I’m asking [Representative/Senator Name] to oppose cuts to veteran benefits and to request evidence for claims about widespread fraud. Thank you.”
If calling Veterans Affairs Committee member: “Hi, I’m calling about the October 29 hearing on VA disability compensation. The VA OIG testified fraud is 0.007%. I’m asking [Senator Name] to focus on improving claims processing, not cutting benefits. If we can afford $150 billion in defense increases and $4 trillion in tax cuts, we can afford benefits veterans earned through service. Thank you.”
If you’re not a veteran: “Hi, I’m calling about the proposed cuts to VA disability, SSDI, and Medicaid. These cuts total over $1 trillion while defense spending increases $150B and tax cuts cost $4T. I’m asking [Representative/Senator Name] to oppose these cuts. What happens to veterans today sets precedent for all social safety net programs tomorrow. Thank you.”
Sources
Congressional and Government:
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/examining-the-continued-growth-in-va-disability-compensation
VA Office of Inspector General Testimony: https://www.vaoig.gov/VA%20OIG%20Statement%20for%2010%2029%20SVAC%20hearing.pdf
VBA Annual Benefits Report: https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/
VA PTSD Research: https://www.research.va.gov/topics/ptsd.cfm
Media Coverage:
Defense News: House Passes Trump Megabill ($150B defense): https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2025/07/03/house-passes-trump-megabill-with-150-billion-in-military-funding/
House Appropriations Committee FY2026 Homeland Security Bill: https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-homeland-security-bill-summary.pdf
NPR: Trump Budget Proposes Cuts: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/nx-s1-5384318/trump-budget-cuts
CNN: Trump Budget Slashes Programs: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/02/politics/trump-budget-proposal-defense-spending
The Guardian: “Washington Post misquoted former VA secretary”: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/06/washington-post-david-shulkin-veterans-disability
Military Times: “VA mental health providers under pressure”: https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/08/26/va-mental-health-providers-say-they-are-under-pressure-to-limit-care/
The Bottom Line
This is coordinated. This is happening now. And veterans are just the opening move.
The tactics are documented. The timeline is clear. The money trail is obvious. What happens next depends on whether enough people recognize the pattern and push back.
Share this. Use it. When the spin starts (and it will), you’ll know exactly what you’re seeing and how to counter it.
Because once you see the playbook, you can’t unsee it. And that’s when you become dangerous to the coordination.
Understanding the tactics helps you counter them. Recognizing the pattern helps you protect not just veteran benefits, but the entire social safety net.
This is your warning. What you do with it is up to you.
Thursday I showed you Daniel Gade’s hypocrisy and the blame-the-veteran rhetoric. Today: why it matters for everyone, and the 11 tactics being used to cut over $1 trillion from disabled Americans.