Veterans say they’re hopeful about Trump. I have concerns.

Military veterans and their families need, more than ever, greater stability, stronger support and significant improvements to essential services.
Our community’s struggles with suicide, retention of personnel and military readiness have left service members, veterans and their families feeling forgotten and alone.
With a second Trump administration on the horizon, veterans are concerned about what the transition to a new commander in chief and new Pentagon leadership will mean for their benefits, including health care and support for businesses.
Last week, the president-elect nominated Pete Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, as secretary of Defense. Hegseth is a decorated infantry officer whose views on women in combat and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have raised concerns. A sexual assault allegation from 2017 against Hegseth, who is best known as a Fox News host, could derail his confirmation by the Senate. Hegseth has denied the accusation.
Opinion:From ‘Fox & Friends’ to the Pentagon? Trump promotes loyalty over experience.
Nonetheless, many veterans are hopeful that Trump will usher in positive changes by providing support systems and funding that are fairly appropriated and well-managed.
In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump signed the Mission Act, which expanded access to private health care options for veterans unable to receive timely care in the Veteran Affairs system. The legislation has been seen as mostly a success, but there are concerns that another Trump term will lead to an underfunded VA system if more resources are directed to private sector health care.
VA educational benefits also improved in the first Trump administration with the Forever GI Bill, which removed the 15-year expiration date on GI Bill benefits. That has made it easier for veterans to pursue education and job training later in life.
The expansion of the educational benefits faced challenges, however. Some veterans’ GI Bill benefits were backlogged in the VA system because of technical difficulties, which led to missed payouts and financial hardships for veterans enrolled in school.
Trump’s pro-business positions carried over to veteran entrepreneurs through tax incentives, deregulation and support for loans. Veteran-owned businesses are an important part of the economy, generating $1.3 trillion in revenue annually and employing about 5.5 million Americans.
Opinion:As a Black woman, Trump’s win leaves me feeling abandoned by America
Yet, entrepreneurship by veterans has declined. In 2014, 11% of all businesses were owned by veterans. That number dropped to 8% by 2020.
Curtez Riggs, an Army veteran and founder of the Military Influencer Conference, has helped thousands of veterans develop and sustain business ownership.
“Veterans are looking for policies that improve support systems to enable innovation and entrepreneurial growth, streamline access to resources and enhance their economic impact,” Riggs told me. “For organizations like (the Military Influencer Conference), it’s about ensuring veterans have every opportunity to thrive beyond their service and provide them pathways to be successful.”
The incoming Trump administration presents both uncertainty and the potential for progress. But no matter the policies the new administration implements, veterans and their families must be at the forefront of decision-making.
To honor veterans’ sacrifices, the administration must ensure that support systems are robust and funding is equitable. Only then will the nation truly put veterans’ needs first.
Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.