Here’s how a government shutdown would affect VA services
Veterans' health care and benefits processing won't be affected, but other services would stop during a government shutdown.
Pentagon & Congress
Senator ‘alarmed’ about barracks privatization, seeks answers from DOD
Given the Defense Department's history with family housing privatization, the Pentagon should "move cautiously," one senator said.
VA cancels plans for employee satisfaction survey this year
VA has conducted a poll of federal employees every year since 2006, but won't distrubute one this year amid multiple reforms to the workforce.
New Tricare Prime option coming to beneficiaries in 2 metro areas
About 150,000 eligible beneficiaries can enroll for the demonstration program during open season.
Crackdown on mail-in ballots won’t focus on military, White House says
The White House won't say if any protections are being considered for overseas military voters but vowed to make sure those ballots are still counted.
VA needs more oversight of health care options to prevent waste: Study
Department leaders last month uncovered more than $100 million in duplicate government payments for medical services.
Timely payments for Guard deployed to DC a concern, lawmaker says
A top Senate Democrat is still awaiting clarity on when Guard troops patrolling the nation's capital will be compensated for that military duty.
VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts
About 80% of VA's roughly 450,000 employees are union members, but the department will no longer honor its contracts with the bargaining units.
Five soldiers shot in attack at Georgia’s Fort Stewart
The installation was locked down shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Defense leaders to return Confederate memorial to Arlington Cemetery
The sculpture honoring Confederate fighters and the separatist movement was removed from the miltiary cemetery in 2023, but will be restored soon.
VA to ease authorization rules for some outside care, raising concerns
Officials will extend authorizations for care handled outside the VA system for 30 different medical specialties, a move they say will ease red tape.
