Millions of veteran benefits at risk as VA deals with predicted $15 billion budget shortfall

The Department of Veterans Affairs predicts it will have a $15 billion budget shortfall, which would put disability, medical, and benefit payments to over 7 million veterans and survivors at risk.

The shortfall is attributed to an increase in filing prompted by the PACT Act. For this year, the DVA expects to be $2.9 billion short and nearly $12 billion short next year due to rising prescription drug costs and more staffing, per Military.com.

"Right now, due in large part to the historic PACT Act, VA is delivering more care and more benefits to more veterans than ever before," VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. "These results are life-changing for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, and VA will continue to push to make sure that they get the care and benefits they deserve."

On Oct. 1, payment disruptions could begin starting.

According to House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL), it would be the largest budget shortfall in the department’s history.

"Not only have your chief financial officers thrown out the dollar amounts requested for many key accounts, they have abandoned many of the estimates and projections that underpinned their budget,” Bost wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “This is not just fiscal mismanagement. It is strategic whiplash."

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Bost has requested McDonough answer questions about the shortfall by July 26.

Back in May, the Washington Examiner reported on how the VA inappropriately paid more than 180 senior executives bonuses worth almost $11 million last year.