{"id":76353,"date":"2024-11-25T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/11\/25\/va-wants-66b-in-extra-funding-for-fy25-down-from-12b-request\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:24:16","slug":"va-wants-66b-in-extra-funding-for-fy25-down-from-12b-request","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2024\/11\/25\/va-wants-66b-in-extra-funding-for-fy25-down-from-12b-request\/","title":{"rendered":"VA wants $6.6B in extra funding for FY25, down from $12B request"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs leaders will ask for $6.6 billion extra in funding for fiscal 2025 to cover the anticipated increased cost of care and benefits over the next 10 months, down significantly from their initial $12 billion request.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers <\/a>were informed of the new budget request Monday. VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal <\/a>said if lawmakers don\u2019t approve the extra funding by the end of December, the department could face staffing and equipment problems in the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do think we\u2019ll run into problems if we don\u2019t get it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes time to hire additional people and build capacity, which is why we need the money now, as opposed to later in the fiscal year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the new fiscal year began Oct. 1, Congress has yet to approve the full VA budget for fiscal 2025, which is expected to be above $360 billion. Lawmakers did OK more than $150 billion in advance appropriations for the department last year, allowing operations to continue even in the event of a political stalemate over the budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\t