The Department of Veterans Affairs would see its lowest increase in program spending in nine years under the federal budget plan outlined by the White House on Thursday, but mandatory benefits spending would jump by more than 12% to cover the costs of new toxic exposure care approved by Congress last year.

Altogether, total department spending would top $320 billion in fiscal 2024 under the plan, part of a nearly $1.7 trillion proposal for federal operations next year. Administration officials said the draft will allow VA leaders to “honor America’s commitment to veterans, servicemembers, families, caregivers, and survivors.” Specific priorities and purchases of the full federal spending plan will not be unveiled until next week…

Last year, that non-mandatory department spending saw an increase of about 19%. The discretionary budget boost has only been below 2.2% once in the last 11 years, in fiscal 2016.

Still, administration officials insist the modest increase in spending is enough to keep pace with VA programming needs. The total includes $3.1 billion for veterans homelessness prevention programs, $2.4 billion for caregiver support programs, and $1 billion for women-specific health care initiatives, all increases over current funding levels… Read the full article here.