Democratic lawmakers and veterans’ teams are fuming over a provision in a stopgap federal spending invoice handed by Home Republicans this week that will reduce a Division of Veteran Affairs fund meant to cowl prices for diseases linked to navy burn pits and different chemical publicity.
The six-month authorities spending package deal, which largely holds federal spending at fiscal yr 2024 ranges, would reduce the Poisonous Exposures Fund (TEF) for the VA subsequent yr.
The controversial fund was meant to allot $22.8 billion to cowl expanded advantages for former service members sickened by navy poisonous exposures — together with burn pit smoke and Agent Orange water contamination — beginning October 1, 2025.
However the persevering with decision (CR) drafted and handed by Home Republicans zeros out funding that will have been used for the TEF within the fall.
“It cuts more than $20 billion in funding needed to provide care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances next year,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stated on the Senate flooring Thursday. “It cannot pass.”
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the highest Democrat on the Home Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the funding plan forward of its Home passage, calling out Home Republicans for reducing the cash regardless of approving it of their spending invoice final yr.
“You can’t make this stuff up,” she posted to X.
Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), himself a veteran, stated he couldn’t help a invoice “that would cut $23 billion from care for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and toxic substances during their service to our country.”
Veterans teams had been additionally sad with the transfer, with the liberal VoteVets warning that reducing the fund “will cost lives” in social media posts.
And Cole Lyle, the director of veterans affairs and rehabilitation for The American Legion, stated the affiliation supported the CR to keep away from a authorities shutdown, however referred to as on Congress to go a fiscal yr 2026 appropriations invoice that features full funding for the TEF beginning in October.
“It is critical that Legionnaires and veterans across the country have access to the care and benefits that resulted from toxic exposure during their service,” he stated in an announcement to The Hill.
Furor over the TEF and different shortfalls in spending have many Senate Democrats against voting for the CR — which might enhance protection funds however reduce nondefense applications. Many Democrats alleged the invoice would create a “slush fund” for President Trump and Elon Musk.
However Democrats are additionally leery of inflicting a shutdown Friday night time — and taking the blame for one — in the event that they don’t vote to advance the measure. At the very least eight Democrats have to vote “yes” to beat the Senate filibuster.
On Thursday Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) stated he plans to vote to advance the 99-page measure, arguing {that a} shutdown would result in the shuttering of regional Veterans Affairs places of work, leaving veterans with out essential companies.
VA Secretary Doug Collins has not weighed in on the brand new funds estimates for his company.
The exclusion of superior appropriated funds for TEF within the CR doesn’t essentially imply the fund goes away subsequent yr. The Trump administration may nonetheless request funding of their upcoming funds request, much like the method for different accounts throughout the federal government, and Congress may embrace it in subsequent yr’s funding payments.
Republican opposition to the Poisonous Publicity Fund largely facilities round their claims that the pot of cash, created after passage of the 2022 PACT Act, is a slush fund for the VA with little oversight.
The GOP lawmakers have made the account a goal in recent times, and have pushed to maneuver these {dollars} again into the usual VA budgeting course of.
However that transfer would create its personal complications, given it could change how nondefense spending is calculated. That would result in cuts in different applications, with no assured funding account for the poisonous publicity advantages in the long run.
