Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Scrutinizes VA Budget Challenges
On September 18, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) convened a hearing to address current and future budget challenges facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This session followed a similar hearing held earlier in the month by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Key points from the hearing:
- VA Leadership Testimony
- Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health
- Josh Jacobs, Under Secretary for Benefits Both officials represented the VA, echoing their roles in the previous House hearing.
- Budget Shortfall Inquiry
- Senators pressed for explanations regarding the VA’s significant budget deficit.
- Questions arose about why the VA hadn’t requested more funding, despite encouragement from Senate appropriators.
- VA’s Defense of Budget Requests
- The department maintained that their initial budget requests were accurate.
- They attributed increased costs to rising enrollment and benefits authorized by the PACT Act.
- PACT Act Implementation
- VA leadership defended their decision to eliminate the phased eligibility cohorts originally planned over a 10-year period.
- Instead, they allowed all eligible veterans to enroll in VA services this year.
- Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) Payments Controversy
- Senators addressed the improper authorizations of CSI payments, referencing a May 2023 report by the Office of Inspector General.
- Bipartisan questioning focused on these payments, the overall budget shortfall, and perceived budget mismanagement by the VA.
The hearing highlighted ongoing concerns about the VA’s fiscal management and its ability to meet the growing needs of veterans in light of recent legislative changes and increasing enrollment.
