VA's Proposed 2025 Budget Includes Increases for Construction, Caregivers and More

The Department of Veterans Affairs rolled out its fiscal 2025 proposed budget Monday, a $369.3 billion plan that would increase spending for medical care, infrastructure, women's health, benefits under the PACT Act and anticipated changes to the VA's family caregiver program.

The proposal, announced just three days after President Joe Biden signed a fiscal 2024 funding package for six cabinet agencies, including the VA, represents a nearly 13% increase from VA's total funding for the year from all sources.

But according to White House budget documents, the bulk of the increases fall under mandatory spending -- the portion required to cover disability compensation, pensions and salaries -- largely as a result of an expansion of PACT Act-related benefits and not the discretionary request, the portion of the budget that covers all expenses besides entitlements.