Sullivan, colleagues demand Veterans Affairs Committee enact greater accountability of VA following budget shortfall

Senator Dan Sullivan, who serves as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), sent a letter with 15 of his Senate colleagues on November 18 to SVAC Chairman Senator Jon Tester from Montana demanding greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a multi-billion-dollar budget fiasco in recent weeks.

Specifically, Senator Sullivan and his colleagues are urging the SVAC chairman to ensure the ‘Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act’ is included with any legislation advancing from the committee before the end of the year. The PRO Vets Act would institute a three-year requirement for the VA to submit quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress to encourage greater oversight and financial accountability, and also withhold bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) personnel if there are future financial shortfalls.

“Just a few short months ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notified Committee members of a looming $3 billion shortfall that would prevent the Department from delivering benefit payments to veterans and their dependents by October 1, 2024, unless Congress provided the Department with an emergency supplemental appropriation,” the senators wrote in the letter. “Now, we have learned that the alleged $2.883 billion shortfall did not exist. In fact, the VA ended Fiscal Year 2024 with a $5.1 billion surplus. Whether by negligence or deceit, this is a stunning about-face that demands our attention.”

The senators go on to say: “The VA’s mismanagement caused significant stress on veterans who rely on these benefits, and our veterans deserve stability and accountability from VA employees…Congress should not expand the authority of the VA while the Department is still unable to manage its existing authorities without guardrails. We must include the PRO for Veterans Act in any moving legislation.”

Sen. Sullivan’s letter is signed by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Marshall (R-Kas.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

In September, the senator attempted to pass the PRO Vets Act as an amendment to a VA supplemental funding package, but it was blocked by Senate Democrats.