“Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie faced the second panel of Capitol Hill lawmakers in as many weeks on Wednesday, tasked with defending his agency’s 2021 budget request and COVID-19 response in the Senate.”
“Lawmakers said they wanted to know how the pandemic has affected VA’s budget, whether adjustments are needed to address future needs and how VA has spent the nearly $20 billion Congress provided VA in emergency pandemic funding.”
“So far, VA has allocated only a fraction of that total — about $2 billion…”
“VA’s fiscal year 2021 budget request totals $243.3 billion — nearly double what VA operated with 10 years ago. VA’s budget has consistently increased since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The budget ask for 2021 includes a $12.9 billion increase, or about 10.2 percent more than 2020.”
“VA is the only federal agency with a double-digit percent funding increase under the president’s plan released earlier this year. Even the Pentagon, which has nearly six times the budget of VA, is expected to only see a half-percent increase. All other non-defense agencies and programs are set to see about a 5 percent cut under Trump’s proposal…” Read the full article here.
Source: Veterans Affairs Secretary Defends 2021 Budget Ask in Senate – By Abbie Bennett, June 3, 2020. Connecting Vets.
