Here’s what America’s Veterans need to know.
Washington, D.C. — The Biden administration’s month-long government shutdown is now hitting America’s veterans where it hurts most. Nearly one in ten Department of Veterans Affairs employees has gone without a paycheck this week — leaving millions of veterans at risk of losing access to essential services.
Veterans Forced to Wait as Democrats Play Politics
According to VA Secretary Doug Collins, more than 37,000 federal employees have either been furloughed or ordered to work without pay after Senate Democrats blocked a funding bill that would have kept the government open through November 21.
“The Democrat-led shutdown is crippling vital services for our Veterans and creating real hardship for VA workers,” Collins warned. “If this continues, the situation will only deteriorate further.”
The shutdown has left critical services across the country in chaos. The GI Bill Hotline—a lifeline for nearly 900,000 veterans—has been shut down. Another 100,000 veterans are unable to enroll in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, which already faced a 60,000-application backlog before the shutdown began.
Dozens of regional benefits offices have been forced to close their doors, and more than 150 VA cemeteries are now locked to the public except for active burials.
Schumer’s Shutdown Leaves Veterans Behind
The crisis comes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democrat allies blocked a House-passed stopgap funding measure—a bill that would have protected VA operations and kept paychecks flowing to federal workers.
Instead, Schumer demanded additions to fund Obamacare subsidies and liberal pet projects, holding veterans’ services hostage for political gain.
The VA, which was already struggling with staff reductions expected to bring the workforce down to about 455,000 employees, is now warning that critical delays are imminent if Democrats refuse to reopen the government.
Medical Care Safe… for Now
For the moment, VA medical centers and outpatient clinics remain open thanks to advance appropriations from Congress. Benefits such as compensation, pensions, education, and housing support are still being processed. But officials warn that if Democrats continue to stonewall, those essential services could soon be at risk too.
Collins: “Democrats Care More About Illegals Than Veterans”
In a fiery statement, Secretary Collins blasted Democrat leadership for their misplaced priorities:
“It’s time for Democrats to stop using the suffering of Americans as political leverage to give free health care to illegal immigrants,” Collins said. “They need to open the government and allow the VA to deliver the complete, comprehensive care our veterans have earned.”
Meanwhile, Schumer and the left continue to blame Republicans—ignoring the fact that their own obstruction has left America’s heroes waiting in line while Washington funds handouts for non-citizens.
🇺🇸 America’s Veterans Deserve Better
While political elites in Washington collect their taxpayer-funded salaries, the men and women who served this country are being told to wait. For many families, the shutdown means missed mortgage payments, delayed benefits, and growing uncertainty.
It’s another painful reminder that under Democrat control, illegal immigrants get handouts while our veterans are left behind.
👉 Share this story if you believe America’s veterans come first — not Washington politics.
