INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE PROVIDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Statement from Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, Tanya Bradsher

"As many of you are aware, annual funding for some government agencies, including portions of VA, expires at midnight December 20, 2024. The Administration will continue working with Congress to complete appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025. 

We at VA are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that a lapse in funding could occur. A lapse would mean that certain Government activities would cease due to a lack of appropriated funding, and that designated pre-notified employees of this agency would be temporarily furloughed. We’ve prepared a contingency plan to execute an orderly shutdown of activities that would be affected by such a lapse. If there is a lapse in funding, furloughed and excepted employees will receive retroactive pay for the furlough period as soon as possible after the lapse ends.

Most VA operations will continue without interruption if there is a shutdown. Health care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and mandatory benefit payments to Veterans are funded through an advance appropriation. In addition, certain programs meet legal requirements to continue performing their designated duties and are considered “excepted.” These include benefits processing at the Veterans Benefits Administration; interments through the National Cemetery Administration; and certain information technology functions at the Office of Information and Technology. 

The Department’s projection is that 96% percent of VA employees would be fully funded or continue to perform excepted functions during a shutdown. 403,159 (out of a pre-shutdown total of 458,579) VA employees are VHA employees funded by advance appropriations or multi-year appropriations. Others are considered “excepted.” The total projected number of employees who would continue to report to work is 440,740. The 17,839 employees that are not excepted will continue to work until the carry over funds are depleted, then be furloughed. More details on VA’s Contingency Plan for a potential lapse in appropriations can be found here.

We understand the uncertainty this situation causes can be unsettling, but we will keep you updated on the status of government appropriation every step of the way. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and patience through this process – and for all that you do for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."