Legion joins with other VSOs in calling for Congress to immediately fund $15-billion VA budget shortfall

Multiple veterans service organizations, including representatives from The American Legion, gathered in the nation’s capital Wednesday to draw attention to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ massive budget shortfall and call on Congress to pass before Sept. 20 supplemental legislation in what is expected to be a government budget stopgap continuing resolution.

Earlier this week, Military.com reported that in addition to a $3 billion shortfall for the rest of the year, VA officials have confirmed they are asking Congress “to include an extra $12 billion for the department's 2025 medical budget in the upcoming stopgap spending measure –  which must be passed into law by the end of the month – to ensure outreach to veterans and growth of the system can continue apace without compromising wait times and staffing levels.”

The Legion joined with Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, TAPS, Military Officer Association of America and Wounded Warrior Project during a press conference in Washington, D.C., to call for immediate passage of supplemental funding legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia.