VA seeks $12B supplemental funding for PACT Act staffing
FedNewsNetwork reports the VA is urging Congress to address a $12 billion shortfall caused by increased healthcare worker hiring in the full FY2025 budget, which will follow the current continuing resolution that runs through December.
VA is managing a record-level appointments due to the PACT Act and plans to expand its health care workforce to 404,000 employees with the additional funds. The act expands VA benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, such as burn pits and Agent Orange.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the need for “discernment” in hiring decisions and warned of challenging budget years ahead. Congressional Republicans voiced concerns over increased staffing’s contribution to the shortfall months after submitting VA’s fiscal 2025 budget request.
The agency is also addressing productivity issues with its incoming Cerner-based EHR, which has experienced numerous performance incidents delaying its rollout and ballooning costs.
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