Veterans for American Ideals (VFAI) is a coalition of veterans established by left-of-center activist organization Human Rights First. ¹ It organizes veteran advocacy campaigns supporting refugees and illegal immigrants, inclusive military policies, and opposing “violent white extremism” in the military. ²

Background

Veterans for American Ideals is a program established by Human Rights First. ¹ It is a coalition of veterans who advocate left-of-center issues including support for refugees, inclusive military policies, and asylum rights for illegal immigrants at the United States border. ^{1 3}

Human Rights First was founded in 1978 to “address the lack of legal protection for refugees and asylum seekers.” It is a left-of-center activist organization advocating that the immigration system to accept more refugees. The organization partners with pro-bono attorneys to provide legal support to those seeking asylum in the United States. ⁴

In 2015, Human Rights First director of national security outreach Scott Cooper established VFAI to “elevate the voice of veterans.” Initial campaigns were focused on supporting the Special Immigrant Visa Program and protecting refugees. ⁵ The Special Immigrant Visa was created in 2006 to allow permanent residency for foreign nationals who provided services to the United States government. ⁶

Campaigns and Advocacy

As part of the Veterans for American Ideals coalition, veterans can participate at the local or federal levels. ⁷ Its website lists campaigns and encourages veterans to send pre-formatted messages to members of Congress and to the White House. ²

VFAI supports additional visas and funding for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program and an extension of the program through 2029. ⁸ Several campaigns include support for the evacuation of Afghans from Afghanistan and for the Afghan Adjustment Act that would provide lawful permanent residency to Afghan nationals. ^{2 9}

Additional campaigns include writing to elected representatives to “stand up against violent white extremism in our military” and to “demand accountability for January 6.” ²

VFAI also advocates for humanitarian assistance for migrants and asylum seekers at our borders and an end to troop deployments to the border. ¹⁰

VFAI released a statement indicating its concerns regarding the nomination of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Its concerns included Hegseth’s perceived positions on LGBT people and women in the military and his support for using the military to control protests, prevent civil unrest, carry out border security, and deport illegal immigrants. ¹¹

In November 2024, VFAI joined several left-of-center civil rights organizations including Common Defense, the Anti-Defamation League, the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights First, the National Urban League, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Movement Advancement Project in sending a letter to the U.S. Congress regarding the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The letter expressed concerns over proposed provisions that would “eliminate efforts to address extremism impacting the military community, as well as provisions that would restrict or eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, and gender affirming care.” ¹²

Along with other left-of-center advocacy organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Immigration Hub, the National Immigration Forum, and the UndocuBlack Network, VFAI advocates a bill that would “amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by exempting the children of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from existing visa quotas.” ¹³

Funding

Veterans for American Ideals is a project of and funded through Human Rights First. In 2023, Human Rights First reported revenues of $14,711,146 and expenses of $15,085,940. Government grants made up 10 percent of revenues. Additional donors include Georgetown University, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. ^{14 15}

Leadership

Scott Cooper founded VFAI. Cooper was in the United States Marine Corps for over 20 years in leadership positions. He joined Human Rights First in 2014 and established Veterans for American Ideals. In 2019, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Congress as a member of the Democratic Party. He is an independent government consultant and an Atlantic Council fellow. ¹⁶

In 2019, Bishop Garrison succeeded Cooper. Garrison is a graduate of West Point and a U.S. Army veteran. He was an officer in the United States Army for five years, then served in the Obama administration, working in the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He was an interim executive director of the Truman National Security Project before joining Human Rights First. ¹⁷

Chris Purdy became VFAI director in 2021. Previously he was a teacher and administrator for the District of Columbia and Atlanta Public Schools systems and a sergeant in the Army National Guard for eight years. He is a member of the Truman National Security Project. In 2024, he founded and became CEO of the Chamberlain Network, ^{18 19} a left-of-center project fiscally sponsored by Policy Impact to fight perceived “rising political violence and declining democratic norms. ^{20 21}

Gretchen Klingler is the current director of Veterans for American Ideals as of November 2024. Klingler served in the United States Air Force for 6 years. Prior to joining VFAI, she worked at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition in several positions leading to deputy director of veteran outreach. ^{22 23}

1. “Veterans for American Ideals.” Human Rights First. Accessed February 13, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/project/vets-for-american-ideals/
2. “Take Action With Us!” Vets for American Ideals on Quorum. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://vfai.quorum.us/take_action/
3. X – Vets for American Ideals. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://x.com/Vets4AmerIdeals
4. Human Rights First homepage. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/
5. “Veterans for American Ideals Organizes Grassroots Campaign Strategy with Quorum.” Quorum case study. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.quorum.us/case-studies/organize-grassroots-campaign-strategy/
6. “Breaking Down the Special Immigrant Visa: Who Qualifies and Why It Matters.” Gehi & Associates. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://gehilaw.com/breaking-down-the-special-immigrant-visa-who-qualifies-and-why-it-matters/
7. “The Help We Need.” Human Rights First – Veterans. Accessed February 13, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/skill/veteran/#needs
8. “Ask Your Representatives to Support SFOP Appropriations Act Amendments for our Afghan Allies.” Vets for American Ideals. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://vfai.quorum.us/campaign/cosponsorSFOPamendments/
9. Dan Kosten. “Bill Summary: The Afghan Adjustment Act of 2023.” National Immigration Forum. July 28, 2023. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://immigrationforum.org/article/bill-summary-the-afghan-adjustment-act-of-2023/
10. “Troops at the Border.” Human Rights First. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/troops-at-the-border/
11. Gretchen Klingler. “VFAI Expresses Concern Surrounding Pete Hegseth’s Nomination as Secretary of Defense.” Human Rights First. January 13, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/vfai-expresses-concern-surrounding-pete-hegseths-nomination-as-secretary-of-defense/
12. “Veterans and Civil Rights Organizations Urge Congress to Reject Harmful Provisions in the NDAA.” Human Rights First. November 19, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/veterans-and-civil-rights-organizations-write-to-congress-on-dangerous-provisions-in-the-fy2025-ndaa/
13. “US senators reintroduce bipartisan bill to reunite Filipino WWII veterans with family.” Asian Journal News. February 12, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://asianjournal.com/usa/us-senators-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-reunite-filipino-wwii-veterans-with-family/
14. Human Rights First. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VIII). 2023.
15. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=best&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023&q=13-3116646&submit=Apply
16.  LinkedIn – Scott Cooper. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-cooper-1b682317/
17. “Veterans for American Ideals Welcomes Bishop Garrison.” Vets for American Ideals. March 19, 2019. Accessed February 13, 2025. https://www.vfai.org/blog/veterans-american-ideals-welcomes-bishop-garrison
18. “Chris Purdy.” Human Rights First. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/people/chris-purdy/
19. LinkedIn – Chris Purdy. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophertpurdy/
20. The Chamberlain Network homepage. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.chamberlainnetwork.us/
21. Rebecca Beitsch. “With democracy in balance, veterans take up new fight at home.” The Hill. July 31, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4800677-veterans-democracy-trump-november-election-2024-jan-6/
22. “Gretchen Klingler.” Human Rights First. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://humanrightsfirst.org/people/gretchen-klingler/
23. LinkedIn – Gretchen Klingler. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenklingler/