VA Employees Affected by Government Shutdown
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reported that around 37,000 employees are either furloughed or working without pay due to the federal government shutdown.
Despite the shutdown, the department’s medical centers, outpatient clinics, and veterans centers remain operational, thanks to prior funding from Congress. The VA emphasized this point.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins expressed concern, stating, “The Democratic government shutdown has restricted services for veterans and is creating hardships for VA employees. This situation will only worsen over time.” He emphasized a call to action for Democrats, urging them to halt the use of American suffering as a means to advocate for free health care for undocumented immigrants.
Collins further urged the government to reopen, allowing the VA to deliver the comprehensive services that veterans, their families, and caregivers deserve.
While some services are still accessible, others have been suspended. For instance, over 900,000 veterans cannot get assistance through the currently closed GI Bill hotline, and around 100,000 veterans are missing out on counseling and case management services due to the furlough of employees in those departments.
Moreover, 56 VA Regional Benefits Offices have shut their doors to the public.
As for service members getting ready to retire, more than 16,000 will miss crucial transition briefings because the service contract has become invalid. Additionally, 157 national cemeteries managed by the VA are either not maintained or lacking permanent headstones.
That said, burials are still taking place at the Virginia National Cemetery.
The agency has confirmed that claims related to veterans’ benefits—such as compensation, pensions, and housing—are still being processed and issued.
In the political arena, Republicans have criticized Democrats for supposedly prioritizing health care for undocumented immigrants during this ongoing government shutdown, while Democrats argue that Republican leadership should focus on negotiating a bipartisan agreement to alleviate rising health care costs for Americans.
