Senate Republicans blamed the VA’s hurried implementation of a benefits program for veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances for the agency’s expected $15 billion budget shortfall.
In a letter led by Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, seven Senate Republicans argued that the VA ignored “congressional intent” in its implementation of the PACT Act when it began processing benefits claims from all veterans and survivors in January 2023, instead of adhering to the requirement that benefits be phased in over an eight-year period.
The lawmakers argued that the fast-tracked processing of benefits led to the $15 billion budget shortfall, which they noted was the largest “shortfall ever experienced by any administration, and a blatant willingness by the VA to mislead the American public and Congress.”
“Your active disregard for the law directly impacts veterans and threatens to put their promised benefits for exposure to toxic substances while serving their country … at risk,” the lawmakers wrote.
Terrence Hayes, a spokesperson for the VA, told The Washington Times in a statement that the agency expedited the roll out of the PACT Act so that millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, either from burn pits or Agent Orange, could get the benefits they deserve as quickly as possible.
“Without that action, our nation’s heroes would’ve had to wait up-to 10 years — and some wouldn’t have even lived to see their earned benefits or access possibly life-saving care,” he said. “That’s unacceptable. Now, thanks to that decision and this historic legislation, we are delivering more care and more benefits to more veterans than ever before.”
In July, VA officials told Congress that they expected to outspend this fiscal year’s budget by $2.88 billion, and go over President Biden’s fiscal 2025 budget request by a further $11.97 billion.
Mr. Biden requested a total of $369.3 billion for fiscal 2025, including $24.5 billion for the PACT Act’s Toxic Exposures fund and $200 million for leases related to the legislation.
The VA earlier this month touted a massive increase in veterans enrolling or seeking benefits, and noted that since the PACT Act passed two years ago, 740,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
More veterans are also applying for VA benefits than ever before since the legislation became law, with 4.4 million veterans and their family members applying in the last two years. Roughly 1.7 million of those claims are from veterans that meet conditions for benefits in the PACT Act.
But it’s the massive uptick in veterans seeking or receiving benefits that’s caused a cash crunch for the agency.
VA Secretary Dennis McDonough said after the budget revelation that this year’s shortfall was largely because of an aggressive campaign to get more veterans to sign up for benefits, while the bigger funding gap expected next year was a result of needing to hire more people to meet a larger-than-expected number of veterans enrolling for benefits.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.