Congress did not pass legislation to fix a $3 billion budget shortfall for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before leaving for a monthlong recess. Officials warn that veterans’ benefits could be at risk soon.
Some senators hoped to pass a fix before the September 20 deadline, but the effort failed amid scrutiny over alleged mismanagement at the VA. Senator Jerry Moran criticized the VA for not revealing the shortfall sooner, questioning if the agency was aware of the problem.
The VA attributes the shortfall to the PACT Act, a 2022 law that led to increased enrollment and benefits claims. The White House reported over 4 million claims since August 2022, including 1.6 million related to the PACT Act. The VA is asking Congress for about $3 billion in mandatory funds for fiscal 2024 and around $12 billion for medical care in fiscal 2025.
Senator Sherrod Brown acknowledged the high cost of the PACT Act and introduced a bill to address the shortfall. The proposed bill includes $2.8 billion in additional funding, with $2.3 billion for compensation and pensions, and $597 million for readjustment benefits. It also calls for a review of the shortfall’s causes and possible future improvements.
If Congress doesn’t provide the additional funds by September 20, veterans’ compensation, pension payments, and readjustment benefits might be delayed. Some senators are demanding more information from the VA before passing the bill, with concerns about how the funds were spent.
A group of Republicans has called for an immediate hearing to address the shortfall, while Rep. Mike Bost criticized the Biden-Harris administration for the issue. The VA has responded to concerns and is working with Congress to prevent any negative impact on veterans.