VA Rejects Psychedelic-Focused Veterans Group’s Grant Application For Suicide Prevention Program

OG article by Kyle Jaeger

December 3, 2025

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rejected a grant application from No Fallen Heroes, a group founded by Navy veteran Matthew “Whiz” Buckle, which connects veterans to psychedelic therapy programs abroad for treating mental health issues, including to combat suicide. Despite the organization's mission to address the veteran suicide crisis and its success in helping over 100 veterans and first responders through trauma-informed, sacred-medicine retreats, the VA deemed it ineligible for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant, citing failure to meet threshold requirements in 38 C.F.R. § 78.20 without addressing the application's substance. Buckle criticized the decision, noting the group has been operating for five years on work the government "rarely delivers," and assumed rejection stems from its use of psychedelic-assisted healing. This follows meetings with VA staff and Secretary Doug Collins, who supports expanding psychedelic access like ibogaine to curb veteran suicides; Collins raised the issue with President Donald Trump in a May cabinet meeting and has touted his role in promoting such therapies. He stated he is "very open" to expansions, emphasizing curing rather than treating symptoms, and noted VA's dozen clinical trials, including MDMA-assisted therapy at VA Bronx Health Care with positive results. Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema reported Collins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are receptive to psychedelics reform. Marijuana Moment sought VA comment but received none.