Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is a nonprofit organization that claims to empower communities of veterans, service members, and their families to advocate for policy solutions that will improve the lives of Americans. ¹ Using what it calls “liberty-based principles,” CVA aims to amplify concerned voices, inspire action, and elevate veterans’ perspectives to address policy issues like veterans’ care and services, national defense, U.S. foreign policy, and the U.S. economy. ²

Concerned Veterans for America is a project of Americans for Prosperity. ³ CVA was operated by the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust until 2016. ⁴

Vets for Economic Freedom Trust

Concerned Veterans for America was originally operated by the 501(c)(4) nonprofit Vets for Economic Freedom Trust. In 2016, the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust ceased all operations, dissolved, and gave its liquidated assets ($183,342) to Americans for Prosperity (AFP). AFP hired Jae Pak, Joseph Gecan, and Dan Caldwell as employees after the dissolution. ⁵ At the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust, Pak had been the president and chief operating officer, Gacen was the vice president of strategy, and Caldwell was the vice president of political action. ⁶

Pete Hegseth, who was nominated by president-elect Donald Trump for U.S. Secretary of Defense, is a former chief executive officer of the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust. ⁶ Hegseth was cohost of “FOX and Friends Weekend.” Hegseth is a former Army National Guard officer, a former senior fellow of the Center of the American Experiment, and a former policy director at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. ⁷

The Vets for Economic Freedom Trust was funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Though Vets for Economic Freedom Trust did not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm a $12.6 million donation from Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce (now called the Stand Together Chamber of Commerce) in tax year 2016. That same year, Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce donated $48.7 million to Americans for Prosperity. ⁸

Activities

Concerned Veterans for America advocates for the protection and expansion of veteran’s health care options, rethinking U.S. foreign policy, and sustaining a dynamic U.S. economy. CVA uses grassroots efforts and partnerships with like-minded leaders to advance nonpartisan, principled policies. ²

CVA claims that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has failed veterans by not following the requirements of the VA MISSION Act. CVA advocates tough U.S. Congressional oversight of the VA and legislation that calls for personnel accountability. CVA also advocates for Congress to streamline veterans’ access to treatment options and to pass “full choice” legislation. Additionally, CVA recommends the VA be reformed to more effectively help veterans transition to civilian life, claiming that the current system is poorly designed and insufficient at providing support for veterans’ long-term rehabilitation. ²

CVA advocates for a more prudent foreign policy that would ensure that the U.S. only participates in alliances that advance vital U.S. interests. CVA also advocates for reducing the U.S. footprint in the Middle East, instead using defense resources in areas posing a greater threat. Additionally, CVA claims that the balance of war powers has been skewed as U.S. Congress has neglected its Constitutional duty to authorize and oversee military action, ultimately resulting in a higher risk for the U.S. entering into unwise conflicts. CVA recommends that Congress repeal outdated authorizations for use of military force. ²

CVA supports American security through a dynamic and sustainable U.S. economy. CVA advocates for an increase in U.S. energy production and exports, reforming the unsustainable and ineffective spending patterns of the U.S. Department of Defense and the VA, and securing the financial future of the U.S. by overhauling the budgeting process and reducing America’s $34 trillion national debt. ²

Funding

Concerned Veterans for America is a project of Americans for Prosperity and is funded by undisclosed donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. ³

Staff

Russ Duerstine is the executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. Duerstine is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and formerly worked as a mainframe computer technician for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). ⁹ Duerstine also formerly worked as a campaign consultant for Tom Green GOP consulting, managing the strategies of several West Texas Republican campaigns. ¹⁰

John Byrnes is a strategic director of CVA and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard. Byrnes is the co-founder of a veterans’ program at the City University of New York ¹¹ and formerly worked as director of the Defend Mario Lozano fund. ¹²

Darin Selnick is a senior advisor to CVA and a veteran and retired Captain in the U.S. Air Force. Selnick formerly worked as executive director of CVA’s Fixing Veterans Health Care Bipartisan Taskforce, senior advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and veteran affairs advisor to the White House Domestic Policy Council. Selnick is a member of the American Legion, AMVETS, Jewish War Veterans, and the Air Force Association. ¹³

Jason Beardsley is senior coalitions advisor for CVA and director of veterans’ initiatives at Stand Together. Beardsley is a veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy and formerly worked as a special assistant in the office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, senior advisor to the secretary of the VA, and national executive director of the Association of the United States Navy. ¹⁴

Herb Ford is general counsel for CVA and a veteran and retired Colonel of the U.S. Army. Ford is a member of both the Missouri Bar and the Virginia Bar. ¹⁵

Tyler Koteskey is the policy director for CVA. Koteskey formerly worked as a policy analyst at both Americans for Prosperity and the Reason Foundation. Koteskey is a former Marcellus Policy Fellow with the John Quincy Adams Society. ¹⁶

1. “About CVA.” Concerned Veterans for America. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://cv4a.org/about-cva/.
2.  “2024 Policy Priorities.” Concerned Veterans for America. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://cv4a.org/2024-policy-priorities/
3. “Support CVA.” Americans for Prosperity.” Accessed December 4, 2024. https://donate.americansforprosperity.org/americansforprosperity/SupportCVA.
4.  Vets For Economic Freedom Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Part I, Line 12.
5. Vets For Economic Freedom Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Schedule N.
6. Vets For Economic Freedom Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
7.  “Pete Hegseth.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 8, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/petehegseth/.
8. Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Schedule I, Part II.
9. “Five interesting facts about CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine.” Concerned Veterans for America. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://cv4a.org/the-overwatch/five-facts-executive-director-russ-duerstine./
10. “Russ Duerstine.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-duerstine-244a05327/
11. ^[1] “John Byrnes.” Concerned Veterans for America. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://cv4a.org/member/john-byrnes/.
12. “John Byrnes.” The John Locke Foundation. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://www.johnlocke.org/guest-voice/john-byrnes/.
13. “Darin Selnick.” Concerned Veterans for America, Accessed December 30, 2024. https://cv4a.org/member/darin-selnick/.
14. “Jason Beardsley.” Concerned Veterans for America, Accessed December 30, 2024. https://cv4a.org/member/jason-beardsley/.
15. “Herb Ford.” Concerned Veterans for America, Accessed December 30, 2024. https://cv4a.org/member/herb-ford/.
16. “Tyler Koteskey.” Concerned Veterans for America, Accessed December 30, 2024. https://cv4a.org/member/tyler-koteskey/.