Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett
Birthplace	Michigan, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Known for	Serving as U.S. Representative for Michigan; Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization

Tom Barrett is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan. In Congress, Barrett has focused on tax policy affecting working families, veterans' affairs, and oversight of federal programs impacting his state. He serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, a role through which he has led oversight efforts related to the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health record systems and addressed delays in GI Bill payments. Prior to his election to the U.S. House, Barrett served in the Michigan State Legislature, where he built a legislative record centered on fiscal policy and constituent services. His tenure in Congress has been marked by advocacy for tax relief measures, particularly the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, and by active engagement with veterans' issues in Michigan. Barrett represents a district that includes portions of central and southern Michigan, and he has been a visible figure in debates over federal tax policy, election integrity, and veterans' healthcare modernization.

Career

Michigan State Legislature

Before entering federal politics, Tom Barrett served as a member of the Michigan State Senate. His time in the state legislature provided a foundation in fiscal and policy issues that he carried into his subsequent career in Congress. Barrett's tenure in state government helped establish his political profile in central Michigan and positioned him for a successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Tom Barrett serves as the U.S. Representative for a Michigan congressional district. As a Republican member of the House, Barrett has been active in several policy areas, including tax policy, veterans' affairs, and federal oversight.

Tax Policy and the Working Families Tax Cuts

Barrett has been a prominent advocate for the legislation known as the Working Families Tax Cuts. In a February 2026 op-ed published in The Detroit News, Barrett wrote that Michigan families were "seeing bigger tax refunds" as a result of the legislation, which increased the Child Tax Credit. The National Republican Congressional Committee described the measure as "the largest middle-class tax cut in history," crediting both President Donald Trump and Barrett for its passage and stating that "working families are already cashing in."

Barrett's support for the tax legislation has also drawn criticism. Michigan state Representative Kara Hope, writing in the Lansing State Journal in February 2026, argued that the policies of "Trump, Barrett, Big Oil" were "making everything cost more" for Michigan residents, pointing to rising utility costs and the broader cost of living in the state. This criticism reflects broader partisan disagreements over the impact of Republican-backed tax and energy policies on household expenses in Michigan.

Veterans' Affairs

A significant component of Barrett's congressional work has been his role on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. In this capacity, Barrett has focused on two principal areas: the modernization of the VA's electronic health record (EHR) system and the timely delivery of GI Bill education benefits to veterans and their dependents.

In February 2026, Barrett led an oversight trip to Michigan VA facilities in advance of the rollout of a new electronic health record system. The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs described the visit as a "key oversight trip," noting that Barrett went "on the ground" to assess the readiness of Michigan VA facilities for the EHR transition. The VA's electronic health record modernization effort has been a subject of significant congressional scrutiny, with concerns raised across party lines about cost overruns, implementation delays, and the impact on patient care at VA medical centers. Barrett's personal visits to Michigan facilities underscored his approach of conducting direct oversight rather than relying solely on testimony and reports.

In December 2025, Barrett led an Economic Opportunity hearing focused on GI Bill payment delays affecting veterans' dependents. The hearing, conducted under his chairmanship of the Technology Modernization Subcommittee, examined the causes and consequences of delays in processing GI Bill benefits, which fund education and training for veterans and eligible family members. Payment delays in GI Bill benefits have affected thousands of student veterans and their dependents nationwide, in some cases causing financial hardship and disruptions to enrollment. Barrett's decision to convene the hearing reflected the subcommittee's focus on ensuring that the VA's technology systems function effectively to deliver benefits in a timely manner.

Immigration and Constituent Engagement

In February 2026, Barrett's congressional campaign drew attention for filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking the emails of high school students who had participated in an anti-ICE walkout. The incident was reported by East Lansing Info, which initially reported that Barrett's congressional office had filed the request before issuing a correction clarifying that it was Barrett's campaign that had done so. The report generated discussion about the boundaries between campaign activity and official congressional business, as well as concerns about the privacy of minors involved in political protest. The episode illustrated the broader national tensions surrounding immigration enforcement during the Trump administration and the ways in which local events could become entangled with federal politics.

Election Integrity

Barrett has also weighed in on election administration and integrity issues. The topic of federal involvement in state elections has been a point of contention between the two major parties. A February 2026 opinion column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referenced recent bipartisan agreement on the importance of protecting state-run elections from excessive federal intervention, a topic on which Barrett and other Republicans have taken public positions.

Separately, a January 2026 column attributed to Barrett and published by WisPolitics carried the headline "Our elections are too important to sit on the sidelines," reflecting Barrett's engagement with election-related policy debates. Barrett's public statements on election integrity have emphasized the importance of participation and oversight in the electoral process.

Political Positions

Barrett's political positions align broadly with the Republican mainstream. He has supported tax cuts aimed at middle-class and working families, particularly through the expansion of the Child Tax Credit as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. On veterans' issues, he has prioritized technology modernization at the VA and the timely delivery of education benefits, conducting direct oversight of VA facilities in his home state.

Barrett has supported the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, as reflected in the FOIA controversy involving his campaign's interest in the identities of students who protested ICE operations. On election policy, Barrett has advocated for active engagement in election oversight and integrity efforts.

Critics, including Democratic state legislators, have argued that Barrett's support for Trump administration energy and tax policies has contributed to rising costs for Michigan residents, particularly in the area of utility bills.

Controversies

FOIA Request for Student Emails

In February 2026, Barrett's campaign became the subject of media scrutiny after it was reported that the campaign had filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the email addresses of high school students who participated in a walkout protesting ICE operations. East Lansing Info initially reported that Barrett's congressional office had filed the request before issuing a correction noting that it was his campaign organization. The incident raised questions about the appropriateness of a political campaign seeking the personal information of minor students who had engaged in political expression, and it attracted criticism from civil liberties advocates and political opponents.