Subcommittee Slams VA for Repeated Budgeting Failures
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the Veterans’ Health Administration FY25 potential shortfall.
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-TX) said, “In July, VA alarmingly notified Congress of a potential $15 billion shortfall, including $12 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 for the Veterans Health Administration. Oddly, VA opted to notify Congress of this almost immediately following the House and Senate marked up bills for the fiscal year.
“Given the dire urgency expressed by VA of a potential September lapse in pension, disability and education benefits, Congress quickly acted and passed the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act. Unfortunately, we recently found out that none of the near $3 billion provided in that Act was utilized in Fiscal Year 2024 as intended. In fact, VA carried over $5.1 billion into the new fiscal year. This inability to accurately forecast is unacceptable."
Full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available here.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said in remarks submitted for the record, "One day following the Senate passing their bill in Committee, the VA came to us warning of a potential shortfall of $15 billion—this is wholly unacceptable.
“It is unclear how the estimate could have deviated so significantly from the time the President’s Budget Request was submitted in March, to the time Congress acted on that request. The timeline—and lack of communication regarding an approximated $15 billion shortfall—is extremely concerning.
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“Yet, in another stunning about-face just last month, the VA notified Congress that it, in fact, did not utilize any of the resources provided in the supplemental before the end of the fiscal year. Instead, the VA carried over $5 billion in the account into the new fiscal year. The funds were simply not utilized in the intended timely manner that the VA stated they were needed for.
“This all calls into question the remaining balance of the potential VA shortfall. As of this morning, the VA still seeks $12 billion in additional funding for the Medical Services account in FY25."
Full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available here.
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