On September 3, 2024, the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) Executive Committee submitted a letter to key leaders in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittees. 

The letter highlights the growing demand for VA services following the passage of the PACT Act in August 2022. Since then, the VA has approved over one million PACT Act-related claims and disbursed over $112 billion in earned benefits. While these milestones reflect significant progress in serving veterans, they have also placed unprecedented pressure on VA resources.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has provided over 120 million healthcare appointments in FY 2023 alone, with even higher projections for FY 2024. However, the VHA faces a projected $12 billion shortfall in 2025 due to increased staffing, rising healthcare costs, and expanding community care services. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is also at risk, with potential funding gaps threatening timely payments to over 7 million veterans and their families.

FOVA warns that these budget shortfalls could severely impact the VA’s ability to deliver essential healthcare, benefits, and research services to veterans. The letter urges Congress to prioritize a robust allocation of resources to the VA to ensure it can continue meeting its obligations and providing high-quality care to those who have served the nation.

NAVREF, the chair of FOVA, remains committed to advocating for sustainable funding for VA research, healthcare, and benefits programs to honor the sacrifices of our veterans.