Veterans Affairs shortfall nearing breaking point nine days before benefits could be affected
The Department of Veterans Affairs has just nine days to address a $15 billion budget shortfall, and failure to close the gap could leave millions of veterans without disability compensation and other benefits.
Since July, Congress has been informed that the VA will see a $3 billion shortfall for the rest of this year and a $12 billion shortfall in its budget for fiscal 2025.
Last Friday, members of the House Appropriations Committee shared a funding plan that would give the VA nearly $3 billion. The bill also includes “strong oversight measures to uncover how this massive shortfall occurred and to prevent it from happening again.”
If Congress does not approve the funding for the rest of this year, more than 5 million veterans could lose their benefits, which could lead to a partial government shutdown.
According to Jim Whaley, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, Congress must work fast to close the shortfall and put in safeguards to ensure this does not happen again.