Most people with any real awareness of how the world works would agree that the nation owes a special debt to those who have served in uniform, and even more, to those who have been injured or killed while so serving. We have a branch of the federal government dedicated to just that, the Department of Veterans Affairs, better known as the VA. The VA provides a host of services, as well as medical care, to our nation's veterans.
So, how will the Schumer Shutdown affect those services? On Wednesday, the VA sent out a press release with more information on just that.
The X post refers the reader to a more comprehensive description on the VA's website.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates 97 percent of VA employees continue to work during a shutdown, according to the VA Human Capital Contingency Plan. VA is committed to providing quality, consistent care and services to Veterans, families, Caregivers, and Survivors. VA’s mission allows no exception to this standard, even when operations are limited by the absence of appropriations (commonly known as a “Government shutdown”).
Here's what's not affected by the Schumer Shutdown:
- VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open as usual and providing all services.
- VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
- Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue.
- The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will continue decisions on Veterans’ cases.
- Call Centers: VA’s primary call center (1-800-MyVA411) and the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) will remain open 24/7. The VA Benefit Hotline (1-800-827-1000) will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
- Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will continue.
Here are the services that will be abbreviated or halted completely:
- VA will cease providing transition program assistance and career counseling.
- Call Centers: VA’s GI Bill (1-888-GIBILL-1) and National Cemetery Applicant Assistance (1-800-697-6947) hotlines will be closed.
- VA benefits regional offices will be closed.
- Public Affairs and outreach to Veterans will cease, including social media, VetResources emails, and responses to press inquiries.
- No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries.
- Applications for pre-need burial at VA cemeteries will not be processed.
- No printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates.
- No outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based, and community-based partners by VA Central Office.
The health care and burial services of the VA are, according to this, unaffected. The VA medical system will be operating as usual.
Read More: JD Vance Joins White House Press Briefing, Again Destroys Democrats' Schumer Shutdown Lies
This should come as some small relief to veterans around the nation who are dependent in part or completely on the VA for their medical treatment.
Regardless of party affiliation, these people in Washington who are supposedly carrying out the business of the taxpayers ought to make damn well sure our nation's veterans are taken care of. These are the people who swore an oath to protect and defend, not any president or general, but the Constitution. These are the people who pledged their lives and honor to protecting our country, to stand between the American people and those who would harm them, and if necessary, to fix bayonets and lead the charge.
The least we can do is to take care of them when the battle is won. It's good, in all the hooraw over this Democrat-initiated shutdown, to see that at least this much, the VA's medical services, are unaffected.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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