Recent News of VMF Interest for January–February 2026


What’s VMF been up to lately?

Statement from the VMF Chair: Recognition of Black History Month 

Statement from the Chair on Recent VMF Leadership Changes 

Statement from the VMF Caucus: Veterans and Military Families Speak Out Against Donald Trump’s Blatant Racism 

Statement from the VMF Caucus: February’s Check-In With VMF Members 

Statement from the VMF Caucus on VA’s Harmful Regulatory Amendment Affecting Disability Ratings 

VMF Member Opinions: “The SAVE America Act” by Tom Murphy; and “We need fewer ICE agents and more Alex Prettis” by George Bottorff

Election Season '26: VMF Interview with U.S. Senate Candidate Kevin Ryan (D-IL); and VMF Interview with U.S. Senate Candidate Adam Delgado (D-IL) 

VMF Poetry: “Old Ironsides” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., and “A Salute” by Elisabeth H.

VMF Artwork: “MLK Dreams” by M.B. Dallocchio; and “Save USPS” by Chloe Lamfers

VMF February 2026 Newsletter 

What’s been on Americans’ minds lately?

Op-Ed (from Dems Abroad's Int'l Chair): The SAVE America Act would disenfranchise Americans living abroad 

Opinion: Fighting Threats to Free and Fair Elections (by Dems Abroad Member P.Kamons) 

Opinion: [Rep.] Miller-Meeks [R-IA-1] refuses to respond to veterans

Blog: Republicans' Latest Attempt to Silence Voters: A Wall of Fees 

Opinion: It Is Time to Overhaul the Navy’s Approach to Telling Its Story 

Editorial: We cannot look away 

Op-Ed: There’s no way to normalize Trump’s attacks on democracy 

Opinion: SAVE Act would effectively end mail-in registration 

Opinion: I Thought Removing Confederate Names Meant Black Soldiers’ Legacy Mattered. Then, the Names Were Restored 

Opinion: An open letter to congressional Republicans of conscience 

Op-Ed: Veterans are defending the Constitution against a new enemy: The Secretary of War 

Op-Ed: January Has Been A Month Of Madness 

Opinion: The Founders Would Have Opposed ‘Nationalizing’ Elections 

Opinion: Free speech needs a reset in America 

Op-Ed: Our veterans deserve more from Rep. Kiggans

Opinion: ICE arrested me without cause. What I saw will haunt me forever. 

Op-Ed: How new Mayor Mamdani can get veterans’ services right 

Opinion: Veteran grandfather would demand Sheehy uphold his oath

Opinion: Cuts are hollowing out Veterans Administration health care 

Opinion: Trump Says He Wants to Cancel Elections, but Here Is the Real Threat 

Opinion: A few weeks of X’s algorithm can make you more right-wing – and it doesn’t wear off quickly 

Editorial: To slow the obvious trends, veterans organizations must adapt 

Blog: I Warned You in March 2025. The SAVE Act Is Back. 

Opinion: America’s Generals Shouldn’t Face Political Loyalty Tests 

Opinion: SAVE Act will hurt West Virginians, Ohioans 

Editorial: Call to Arms: Veterans force VA to back off on new disability rule

Op-Ed: How This Federal Legislation Would Save Veterans’ Lives 

What else has been in the media lately?

Dems Abroad Statement on Trump’s Racist Post 

Dems Abroad Take Action Item: Demand Public Hearings on the Epstein Files 

Dems Abroad Black Caucus Statement: Honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson 

Dems Abroad Statement: Athletes not ICE: DA Statement on 2026 Winter Olympics 

Dems Abroad Take Action Item: Protect Your Voting Rights - Oppose the SAVE America Act 

DA Take Action Item: Fire Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller 

USPS Alert: Some Military Post Offices are temporarily suspended

Dems Abroad News Clips 

Article: Trump condemns racist video showing Obamas as apes after removing it, but says he won’t apologize 

Press Release: DNC Statement on Black History Month 

Article: New GOP anti-voting bill may be the most dangerous attack on voting rights ever 

Article: Vietnam War veterans sue to block construction of Trump’s triumphal arch 

Article: Trump calls on Republicans to ‘nationalize’ future elections 

Press Release: [Rep.] Morelle Statement Against Republicans’ Latest Voter Suppression Bill 

Dems Abroad Germany Veterans and Military Families Caucus – February 2026 Newsletter 

Article: How Trump Put Veteran Care in Crisis 

Article: Five Things Veterans and Cleared Workers Should Know Before Moving Overseas 

Article: 8 Social Security Facts Veterans and Service Members Need to Know 

Article: Kristi Noem had Coast Guard pilot fired for leaving her blanket on a plane: report 

Article: How Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections Runs Into the Constitution 

Article: She was an orphan adopted from Iran by a US veteran. The Trump administration wants to deport her 

Article: Resources for African American History Month: Story Map of the Civil Rights Movement 

Letter: Ranking Members Robert Garcia and Joe Morelle Demand Answers from USPS on Mail Delivery Changes and Protecting Election Mail Voting 

Article: Fighting Abroad and At Home: Remembering the Experiences of Black Vietnam Veterans 

Article: Soldiers Honored at Florence American Cemetery 

Article: U.S. veterans file US$1M lawsuit over medical tourism project in Jarabacoa 

Article: Largest Nurses Union Calls To Abolish ICE After Alex Pretti Killing: 'They Messed With The Wrong Profession' 

Blog: Traveling or Living Overseas? How TRICARE Has You Covered 

Article: Trump, two sons, Trump Org sue IRS, Treasury for $10 billion over tax records leak 

Letter: [Sens.] Blumenthal, Boozman, King & Duckworth Lead Bipartisan Push to Secure Long-Overdue Benefits for K2 Veterans 

Article: Georgia army veteran faces deportation after 50 years in the US 

Article: Digital GI bill delays are a reflection of VA’s IT management problem, lawmakers say 

Article: Voter Groups Act Against Move To Restrict Mail-In Ballots 

Article: The Republican Party Is More Than a Little Scared of the Texas Senate Race

Article: Trump: ‘We should take over the voting’ 

Article: Melania Delivers Nonsensical Message About Valentine’s Day to Troops 

Article: Marine detained in Minneapolis says Feds copied his phone without a warrant 

Article: Trump admin moves to finalize return of Schedule F 

Press Release: Blumenthal, Murray, Schumer & Committee Democrats Introduce CRA [Congressional Review Act] to Overturn Trump Administration Rule Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans 

Report: National Taxpayer Advocate's Annual Report to Congress [Point #9 addresses Americans living abroad] 

Article: Senator grills VA secretary over delayed veterans suicide report 

Report: Veteran Families in the 2025 MFLS: Community, Transition Needs, and Family Financial Situation 

GAO Report: Service Member Absences: Actions Needed to Improve Response Process 

Article: Some Army civilians worked during the shutdown—and were told to say they didn’t 

Article: When I returned to the US from vacation, I was denied entry at the border. I'm a citizen and veteran. What gives? 

Article: What do troops really want in care packages? (p.12) 

Article: The Mark Kelly Case Is Bigger Than It Seems 

Article: Fiancé Visa vs. Spousal Visa for Military Families 

Article: Here’s how to see attorney and agent fees paid by VA 

Article: Pentagon says it's cutting ties with "woke" Harvard 

Article: The Companies Behind ICE 

Article: Air Force One will be repainted as Trump has hinted, the US military says 

Article: 'Valor and sacrifice': Rep. Clyburn pushes GI Bill Restoration Act; honors Black veterans 

Article: France to decorate WWII [U.S.] veteran with the Legion of Honor during Laurens, South Carolina ceremony 

Article/Interview: Gen. Wesley Clark reflects on his military career, life after NATO 

Article: FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says 

Article: House Speaker welcomes Trump call to ‘take over’ elections, claims Dem wins appear ‘fraudulent’ 

Article: Letting disabled and military voters cast ballots online once divided Rhode Island Democrats. Not anymore. 

Article: The Plot to Privatize Veteran Brain Care 

Report: 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report 

Study: Military Service, Depression, Belonging, andSuicidality Among College Students 

Article: VA doesn't know how many calls it's answering or how long veterans are waiting to get through 

Article: Struggling to navigate the Epstein files? Here is a visual guide 

Article: ICE Pretends It’s a Military Force. Its Tactics Would Get Real Soldiers Killed 

Article: Hollywood takes some shortcuts when it comes to depicting Americans abroad 

Article: US Military Helping Trump to Build Massive Network of ‘Concentration Camps,’ Navy Contract Reveals 

Article: How Form 2555 Impacts U.S. Citizens Working Overseas 

Article: ‘My dream job has turned into a nightmare’: Ex-feds and public service experts testify to Congress on how to rebuild government post-Trump 

Article: California approves a new $20,000 tax break for military veterans 

Article: Military commanders reportedly force troops to see the Melania movie: 'People are scared' 

Article: Everybody Hates [Rep.] Cory [Mills] 

Article: Kansas Mayor Who Voted for Trump as Noncitizen Faces Felony Charges 

Article: Irishman who first coined phrase ‘United States of America’ honoured in his native Cork 

Article: Democrats sound alarm about possible voter intimidation in midterms 

Article: ‘Wrong in 1942. Wrong now.’ Local Japanese Americans tie WWII incarceration to Trump’s immigration crackdown 

Article: ICE agents pepper-spray 76-year-old Vietnam vet thrice 

Article: Army vet detained by ICE for 8 hours says he wasn't allowed to call an attorney

Article: Why you can't get a beer in military chow halls, even though it's allowed elsewhere on base

Press Release: [GOP Congresswoman] Jen Kiggans’ Economy Leaves Veterans Without Jobs 

Article: When the Army barred men from serving as nurses, they fought back and won 

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U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.

The Global VMF Caucus has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.

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