§89 —
On the record
Democrat
4,712
The other ledger. A Senate Democratic report counted more than 40,000 employees gone from the VA in fiscal 2025, 88 percent of them from health care, including 1,000 physicians and 3,000 registered nurses; the net loss was closer to the secretary's goal of 30,000 1. The report estimates that 1.2 million veteran patients have lost their VA provider, and that requests for a second look at claims rose 44 percent 2.
In September the inspector general reported 4,712 severe occupational staffing shortages, up from 2,959 in fiscal 2024 3. The watchdog says these reflect officials' perceptions, not verified vacancies; the department calls the report unreliable and cites vacancy rates of 15 percent for doctors and 9 percent for nurses 4. The VA ended its mortgage rescue on May 1, 2025, and more than 15,000 veterans have since seen a modified payment rise at least $150 a month; the department says that program put the whole home loan system at risk 5. All 139 facilities reported shortages 4. Those are the buildings the country sends them to.
Sources
- More than 40,000 employees lost in fiscal 2025; 88 percent from the Veterans Health Administration; 3,000 registered nurses and 1,000 physicians; net loss closer to the goal of 30,000 — Government Executive, 22 January 2026 ↑
- 1.2 million veteran patients estimated to have lost their VA provider; requests for a second look at claims up 44 percent — Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, ranking member's report, 22 January 2026 ↑
- 4,712 severe staffing shortages in fiscal 2026 against 2,959 in fiscal 2024 — Military Times, 15 September 2026 ↑
- All 139 facilities reported shortages; findings reflect officials' perceptions, not verified vacancies; the department's reply and its 15 and 9 percent vacancy rates — Government Executive, 16 September 2026 ↑
- VASP ended 1 May 2025; more than 15,000 veterans saw modified payments rise at least $150 a month; 63 percent against 2 percent for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; the department's reply — NPR via KUOW, 30 October 2026 ↑
Republican
A RECORD
The day belongs to the people who served, so the department's numbers go first, and they are good ones. In fiscal 2026 the VA processed 3,111,399 disability claims, past the 3,000,734 it set the year before, and about 60 percent were approved 1. In July the backlog, claims pending more than 125 days, fell below 70,000 for the first time since February 2020, down more than 74 percent since January 2025, and the average claim took 77.7 days 2.
The department reports 93.88 percent accuracy, its highest in three years, and plans to add more than 2,000 processors in fiscal 2027 to the 13,000 it has 3. "VA is putting veterans first by making major improvements in claims processing volume, speed and accuracy," Secretary Doug Collins said 3. A faster answer is a debt being paid, and today is the day to say so. About 5.5 million veterans received service-connected disability benefits as of 2024 3.
Sources
- 3,111,399 disability claims in fiscal 2026 against the prior record of 3,000,734; about 60 percent approved — Stars and Stripes, 16 October 2026 ↑
- Backlog below 70,000 for the first time since February 2020, cut by over 74 percent since 20 January 2025; backlogged means pending more than 125 days; 77.7-day average — American Legion, 8 July 2026 ↑
- More than 2,000 hires planned for fiscal 2027 on top of 13,000 claims employees; 93.88 percent accuracy; about 5.5 million veterans receiving benefits as of 2024; the Collins quotation — Military.com, 30 October 2026 ↑
“No demonstration today. I brought three pieces of paper. The department's: 3.11 million claims, a record, about 60 percent approved. The inspector general's: 4,712 severe shortages, up from 2,959 two years before, and I'll say what they said, those are what facility officials report, and the department says it's no measure of vacancies. NPR's: 63 percent of veterans who got a loan modification came out with a higher payment. For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, 2 percent. Sorry, one thing before you go. The claim gets decided in 77.7 days. Who is in the chair at the clinic on day 78?”— Lou
“Veterans Day. I'm putting the act down. One word, and I'll read it straight: record. The department set one, three point one one million claims, and that's money reaching people who earned it, so say so. Then read the other record. Thirty to forty thousand employees gone in a year, depending who's counting. Four thousand seven hundred twelve severe shortages, reported from all hundred thirty-nine facilities. Fifteen thousand veterans with a mortgage payment up at least a hundred fifty a month. A parade is one day. A nurse is a payroll line, every day. That's where you find out what the holiday means.”
“The department would point out that its claims numbers are real and that it puts its vacancy rates below most other health systems, and on this one day I will leave its case at that, beside the rest of the record.”