STOPGAP MEASURE COULD STOP GOV’T SHUTDOWN, BUT WON'T ADDRESS VA BUDGET CONCERNS
A possible government shutdown on December 20, 2024, is putting a damper on the holidays for many in the military community but the situation is complex for more than just the short term. There are several questions that remain about the future of VA healthcare even if it’s not necessarily affected in 2025. Still, anyone hoping for the additional funding needed by the VA to come to fruition through any emergency extensions for our government’s budget will have to make another Christmas wish. The prospects of that happening feel impossible at this time.
What Is a Stopgap Measure?
A stopgap measure is a bill that helps the government stay partially operational when budget shortfalls occur. Think more of a temporary budget solution than the actual legislation necessary to keep our government running long-term.
Politics continue to divide the two main parties in Congress and in the middle of it all are the American people.
If there is no deal by midnight on Friday, December 20, 2024, then the federal government will not be funded and a shutdown will occur.
The GOP submitted a stop-gap funding measure on December 19, 2024, but it couldn’t pass the House of Representatives.
All of this comes after President-elect Donald Trump didn’t like the funding bill that could have avoided all of this in the first place.
No New VA Funding
Even as the Trump administration, which has yet to reach office, continues to influence policy, it should be noted that the VA is fine—for now and for the most part.
Because the VA is funded differently disruptions should amount to minimal activity, including some changes in hours for hospitals, department information hotlines closing, and fewer staff members.
However, new funding prospects are showing Congress new quarterly finance reports from VA leadership without providing the nearly $6.6 billion in additional funding the organization has requested for Fiscal Year 2025.
If these funds aren’t provided in the near future, the VA is concerned that hiring and operating certain healthcare programs could become an issue by 2026.
GOP Skeptical About Adding VA Funding to Stopgap Bill
Republicans will have complete control of Congress when it’s back in session and don’t like the idea of providing extra funding to the VA as they believe reporting has been inaccurate recently by the organization.
On the other hand, VA leadership is pointing to the increase in patients using healthcare resources, bolstered by the passing of the PACT Act, which has created the need for additional funding.
Some of the discrepancies come from the VA asking for $3 billion in emergency funding to be sure there would be no shortfall.
Furthermore, the VA believed $12 billion more would be needed during FY25, however, despite getting the $3 billion, they later reported that there was no shortfall and the money wasn’t needed after all.
Accusations and a lack of trust have stemmed from the incident and now despite the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee promising more oversight and transparency, many politicians remain skeptical.
Stopgap Measure Solutions and VA Funding Remain at Odds
The current resolution on the table could help the VA get more funding in the future; however, the organization will need to provide quarterly budget briefings for the next three years, covering any budget shortfalls and how it would fix them.
Additionally, lawmakers are working to block VA central office executives from receiving critical skill bonuses due to past misuse of these incentives based on the annual reports the VA Secretary would need to submit on how many senior staff are employed.
Congress is expected to review the VA's funding request for additional money next year after the new legislative session starts. It’s unclear how this delay might affect VA operations.
Whether Congress can pass the stopgap measure for a budget extension in time to prevent a government shutdown remains uncertain, but even if it does, the future of VA funding is still somewhat in limbo.
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