Senate Veterans Affairs Committee member Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., have raised concerns about redirecting resources from wounded warriors and veterans to noncitizens.

Since 2021, over 7 million illegal aliens have been encountered at America’s borders, both at official ports of entry and between them. This overwhelming volume has strained federal agencies, requiring resources from other agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs to help cover costs and/or workload.

VA Deputy Assistant Secretary Terrence Hayes claimed, “At no time are any VA health care professionals or VA funds used for this purpose.” While this statement may be true, Hayes carefully chose his words to sidestep the question by specifically mentioning health care professionals. While the administration denies diverting funds directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the reality is VA administrative personnel are being diverted to process noncitizen claims and ensuring payments for noncitizen care instead of addressing long-standing problems that lower the quality of care for veterans.

Despite improving wait times and mental health care access, veterans still wait almost three weeks to see a medical professional. This shortage affects VA processing times and appointment availability. Over 300,000 claims are backlogged, and more than 950,000 claims are pending for service members and veterans awaiting their final benefits package.

Following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the Biden administration directed the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate efforts across the federal government and redirect resources to support vulnerable Afghans under Operation Allies Welcome. These policy changes come when veteran care facilities like Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are understaffed and overburdened.

As part of this directive, a medical ward and staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center were reallocated to treat Afghan nationals evacuated to the United States. Service members were moved to other areas throughout the hospital for recovery. While no wounded warrior went without care, our nation’s heroes are being pushed aside to prioritize individuals from other countries.

Despite improving wait times and mental healthcare access, veterans still wait almost three weeks to see a medical professional. This shortage affects VA processing times and appointment availability. Over 300,000 claims are backlogged, and more than 950,000 claims are pending for servicemembers and veterans awaiting their final benefits package. The administration denies diverting funds directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but personnel within the VA system are tasked with processing claims and ensuring payments for noncitizen care.

For over 20 years, the veteran community has faced a suicide epidemic due to an inadequate understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder, a lack of access to mental health care, and limited resources—with no signs of improvement. From 2001 to 2021, the United States lost 133,857 veterans to suicide, with no year reporting fewer than 6,000 successful attempts. Veterans are 1.6 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, making it the second leading cause of death among veterans under 45.

But this is only half the story, as an additional 20 veterans die every day from non-suicidal self-inflicted injuries—with the most common being overdose deaths. Factoring in these self-inflicted deaths over the same period reveals the true scale of the VA’s failures in addressing suicide within the veteran community.

Moreover, failing to fulfill our nation’s promises reduces the likelihood that people will choose a military career and that service members and veterans will recommend military service to others, making this a national security issue affecting U.S. military readiness and recruitment.

Today’s Army recruits, over 80% coming from military families, see a direct link between the government’s failure to follow through for veterans and its impact on their own families. Benefits rank as the second-highest reason for joining the service (26%). Since 2014, the Army has not met its recruitment goals. In fiscal year 2023, the military services collectively missed recruiting goals by approximately 41,000 recruits, despite lowering those goals as well as their recruitment standards.

Bureaucracy, understaffing, and poor accountability at the VA already meant fewer veterans received necessary care. Now, add the fact that we are prioritizing the health care of noncitizens over them, and we are leaving our nation’s heroes unsupported. Sadly, in many cases, these individuals resort to suicide.

If resources are diverted from veterans under the Biden administration, Congress must reaffirm its commitment to supporting veterans by supporting the “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act” and exercising its power of the purse. Anything less would fail those who bravely served our nation. Without accountability on this issue, veterans will continue to take their own lives, military families will opt out of service, and the all-volunteer force will be at risk of disintegration—along with our national security.

The Issue

Veterans across the country are experiencing increased wait times and reduced access to medical professionals due to the VA’s decision to cut back on doctors. This decision comes at a time when many veterans are already struggling to receive the care they need. The reduction in medical staff has been attributed to budget constraints and administrative decisions within the VA.

Impact on Veterans

Veterans like John Smith, who served two tours in Afghanistan, are feeling the brunt of these cutbacks. “I risked my life for this country, and now I can’t even get a timely appointment with a VA doctor,” Smith said. “This is not the way our nation should treat its heroes.”

The VA’s actions have led to longer wait times for appointments, reduced availability of specialized care, and increased frustration among veterans who rely on the VA for their healthcare needs.

Lawmaker Responses

Lawmakers have been vocal about their concerns regarding the VA’s decision. A spokesperson for a member of Congress who wished to remain anonymous said, “Our veterans deserve the best care possible, not bureaucratic cutbacks that put their health at risk. We need to ensure the VA is adequately funded and staffed to meet the needs of those who have served.”

Call to Action

Veterans and their advocates are calling on Congress to take immediate action to address the doctor shortages within the VA. They are urging lawmakers to allocate more resources to the VA and to hold the department accountable for its decisions that negatively impact veteran care.

Opinion

The VA’s reduction in medical staff is a disservice to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. It is imperative that we prioritize the health and well-being of our veterans by ensuring they have access to the medical care they deserve. As this issue continues to unfold, it is crucial for both lawmakers and the public to advocate for better support and resources for our nation’s heroes.

By highlighting the urgent need for better care and increased resources, we can ensure that our veterans receive the medical attention they have earned and deserve.

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Article generated from corporate media reports.

Senator Ted Cruz explained it to him.

.@jonstewart you're wrong here. The bill gives a $400B blank check—separate from vets care—for unrelated pork that will supercharge inflation. I support the PACT Act & the $679.4B it would dedicate to vets. It’s ppl trying to use PACT to shovel more pork who are exploiting vets. pic.twitter.com/xdpRTSztmB

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 30, 2022

Anyone who thinks this bill in its current form is not going to do further damage to the collapsing economy is just being a partisan hack. They can pass the bill. But Democrats are choosing politics over the lives of veterans.