Central ND News

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced a budget shortfall of nearly $15 billion. This includes $2.88 billion related to compensation, pension, and readjustment benefit payments at the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA), and another $11.97 billion in medical care accounts at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

This represents the largest budget shortfall the VA has experienced and is a clear departure from the FY 2025 budget request the Biden-Harris administration presented to Congress just four months ago. The projected VHA deficit alone is greater than the entire annual budget of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC), led his colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman Tester regarding concerns about the VA's ability to responsibly serve veterans and manage taxpayer dollars.

“The sudden nature of the issue, and the sheer financial volume of the request, are both cause for concern and call into question the information previously reported by VA,” wrote the senators. “As members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we have an obligation to conduct oversight of the Department. If the problem is not identified and addressed, it is perpetuated. VA must be held to the highest standard in delivering quality, transparent, and efficient care, benefits, and services to our veterans while acting as exemplary stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Further, the letter calls on Chairman Tester to immediately schedule a hearing with the VA to evaluate the budget lapse and determine whether mismanagement contributed to it. Additionally, it cites the Committee’s responsibility to understand how hiring needs and shifting strategies have contributed to this predicament.

“Our Committee is directly responsible for conducting rigorous oversight and this budget shortfall proves that VA is in desperate need of scrutiny and accountability,” continued the senators. “Our obligation is not absolved because the Senate is departing for a five-week recess... The VA Secretary needs to immediately testify in-person before the Committee to answer the nearly $15 billion question before a supplemental is considered. The American people, and especially our veterans, deserve a government operating with full transparency and integrity. They expect results, not a blank check to further bureaucratic mismanagement.”

“The answers and accountability owed to our veterans cannot wait until the Senate returns on September 9, just days before benefits payments will be disrupted,” concluded the senators. “As such, we urge you to immediately schedule a hearing so we can conduct proper oversight and get to the bottom of this concerning report. Once we get these critical answers, then we can quickly take appropriate action to ensure payments continue to our veterans and ensure this unacceptable financial mismanagement does not jeopardize veterans again.”

Additional SVAC colleagues who cosigned include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).