Darin Selnick pushes Trump to sign executive order improving veteran access

Former War Department deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick said Wednesday that he is hoping President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to immediately implement some of the Veterans' ACCESS Act. 

The Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act seeks to codify community care options for veterans while improving accountability within the Veterans Affairs system.

"By putting this to law, it improves mental health, so that in 48 hours, we identify who needs residential mental health," Selnick said on the "Just The News, No Noise" TV show. "So all the things the [Biden administration] broke, the veterans [ACCESS Act] actually fixes it."

Selnick claimed the veteran-related legislation is a top priority for the White House and that he is working with the White House's Domestic Policy Council and Office of Management and Budget to get Trump to sign an executive order.

"We've talked with the White House about the possibility the president can enact most of it right now as an executive order," he said. "We just got to get it over the finish line. Maybe if the President sees this he'll push to get the executive order done. 

"We're very close with the legislation," he continued. "The challenge has been we have to do extra due diligence, because we have such a one-person margin in the house. We have to make sure everyone's on board, and we have the papers."

Selnick added that Republicans, including the president, could use the win of passing a major piece of legislation as the country heads into the 2026 midterm elections this fall.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.