WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Scott DesJarlais announced today that through coordinated efforts with VA Secretary Doug Collins that the McMinnville VA Clinic will remain open. 

 In March it was announced the McMinnville VA Clinic would be closing its doors on May 31. Through a formal letter and series of phone calls Congressman DesJarlais expressed his concern about the closure. Today, March 15, 2026, Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District congressman announced the clinic will remain open at least through 2026.

A link to DesJarlais' social media post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HkQiBp9Av/

 “After a multitude of meetings with Secretary Collins and the VA, I am excited to announce the McMinnville VA Clinic will be staying open,“ DesJarlais said. “I would like to thank my staff who worked tirelessly in coordination with the DC VA and local TVHS team, Warren County Executive Terry Bell for his aid in finding a solution, members of the Tennessee Delegation for joining me in this coordinated effort, and for the patience of the good people of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District.

“Under Secretary Collins’ leadership, the VA has been focused on ensuring our nation’s heroes get the best care possible that meet their needs and expectations. The McMinnville clinic's issues have been a top concern, and we have been working nonstop to ensure the standard of care is raised and will continue to do so moving forward.”

Bell, who said he began reaching out to state and federal officials as soon as heard of the potential closure of the local VA clinic, told the Main Street Journal Friday morning he was proud to see veterans' needs would continue to be met locally.

"I have worked with all our Washington delegation of representatives, constantly calling and talking to them, to do my part to make sure the VA clinic in Warren county remained open for our veterans," Bell said. "This is good news for our veterans."

The VA formally announced plans to close the clinic earlier this year, citing ongoing staffing challenges, low patient trust scores and difficulties maintaining consistent healthcare services at the location. Under the proposal, local veterans would instead be directed toward nearby VA facilities or referred into the community care network for treatment.

The announcement sparked significant public backlash throughout Warren County, culminating in a packed town hall meeting at the Warren County Administrative Building attended by nearly 200 people. During that meeting, veterans questioned VA representatives about travel burdens, continuity of care and whether enough alternatives existed to adequately replace local services. Several speakers argued the closure would disproportionately affect older veterans and those with transportation limitations, while others criticized what they viewed as a decision that had effectively already been made before public input was gathered.

Today's announcement noted that patients who receive care at the clinic will be notified by the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) staff with new details about remaining open.