{"id":19146,"date":"2020-03-25T17:49:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T17:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/25\/latest-emergency-coronavirus-funding-package-includes-tens-of-billions-for-defense-va\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:40:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:40:59","slug":"latest-emergency-coronavirus-funding-package-includes-tens-of-billions-for-defense-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/03\/25\/latest-emergency-coronavirus-funding-package-includes-tens-of-billions-for-defense-va\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest emergency coronavirus funding package includes tens of billions for defense, VA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2020\/03\/25\/army-goes-to-hpcon-charlie-across-all-bases-delta-for-contingency-forces\/\" target=_blank>Department of Defense<\/a> is poised to get another $10.5 billion in emergency funding and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/2020\/03\/23\/coronavirus-threat-prompts-va-request-for-doctors-nurses-to-come-out-of-retirement\/\" target=_blank>Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a> another $19.6 billion as part of a $2 trillion package designed to blunt the economic impact of the ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/coronavirus\/\" target=_blank>coronavirus outbreak<\/a> throughout America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The money includes $1.4 billion in direct funding for National Guard deployments to help state governments respond to emerging health needs, $1.5 billion for the expansion of military hospitals and mobile medical centers if needed, and $1 billion for the Defense Department to help with production of medical supplies running short because of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The measure \u2014 which if passed would be the third major coronavirus response by Congress this month \u2014 also includes provisions to deliver billions of dollars to hospitals, new state and local government support, expanded unemployment compensation and massive business loans, all designed to help stabilize the economy amid unprecedented social shut-downs to curb the virus spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/03\/25\/covid-19-among-troops-have-jumped-almost-60-percent-this-week-as-their-rate-surpasses-the-us-at-large\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-4.56.28-PM.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">COVID-19 among troops jumped almost 60 percent this week, as their rate surpasses the U.S. at large<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">With numbers rising, troops are reporting a slightly higher rate of infection than U.S. residents in general.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate lawmakers are expected to vote on the measure sometime Wednesday afternoon. The House could take it up soon afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nationally, more than 54,000 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, the strain of coronavirus causing worldwide disruptions and panic. More than 730 deaths have been connected to the illness in the United States alone, all in the last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Combating this disease has forced our country to put huge parts of our national life on pause and triggered layoffs at a breath-taking pace,\u201d Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said after the deal was reached Wednesday morning. \u201cThis strange new reality has forced our nation on to something like war-time footing. A fight has arrived on our shores.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawmakers who worked on the agreement said the Defense Department funding is targeted \u201cprimarily for the protection of members of the Armed Forces, their families, and military retirees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of the funds can be transferred to accounts connected with the construction of a southern border wall, a sticking point between Democrats and President Donald Trump in past appropriations fights.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/coronavirus\/2020\/03\/25\/air-force-guard-leaders-could-stay-beyond-retirement-date-under-senate-stimulus-package\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Goldfein-coronavirus-meeting.JPG.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Air Force, Guard leaders could stay beyond retirement date under Senate stimulus package<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Key defense officials could stay around past their planned retirement under a new plan put forth from the Senate.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the $10.5 billion total, $1 billion will be set aside for use with the Defense Production Act, allowing department officials to \u201cinvest in manufacturing capabilities that are key to increasing the production rate of personal protective equipment and medical equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those items have been in short supply in recent weeks. Trump invoked the act earlier this week but has yet to order any civilian production of the scare items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Veterans Affairs<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within VA, the majority of the money \u2014 nearly $15.9 billion \u2014 will be used for direct care specifically in response to veterans health needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis covers treatment of veterans nationwide for coronavirus within VA hospitals as well as in community urgent care clinics and emergency rooms,\u201d a bill summary stated. \u201cThese funds allow VA to cover overtime for their clinical staff, the purchase of personal protective equipment, test kits, and other necessary equipment to manage the impacts of this pandemic among the veteran population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another $3.1 billion will be set aside for new telemedicine efforts within VA, including staffing and equipping mobile treatment sites and \u201cremodeling to VA facilities and state run veterans homes to address the needs of veterans being treated for coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks-battlefield-tech\/2020\/03\/25\/pentagon-leaders-are-doing-what-we-can-to-improve-networks\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20064739250652.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Pentagon leaders are \u2018doing what we can\u2019 to improve networks<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Department of Defense has been working to bolster its networks as the number of employees teleworking surges during the new coronavirus pandemic, senior leaders say.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly 300 veterans have already been diagnosed with the coronavirus strain, and four deaths of VA patients connected to the illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill also includes a number of expanded authorities for VA officials to respond to the threat, including extended overtime pay rules for medical providers, new agreements with broadband internet suppliers to increase telemedicine options for veterans, and waiving some rules regarding income-level eligibility for department benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawmakers also included $360 million for the Department of Labor to invest in programs providing training and supportive services for dislocated workers, to specifically include homeless veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">White House officials have indicated Trump will sign the measure into law if it passes Congress. Earlier this week, Trump called on lawmakers to quickly pass some deal, saying that the economic impact of the illness on the country could be more devastating than the health complications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The $2 trillion plan also includes expanded unemployment benefits and big loans for American industries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":38610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[8,9,160,36,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3424],"class_list":["post-19146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-congress","category-coronavirus","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters","category-pentagon"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"LIM63VXMMBC5TBEHTV3C377YHU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/03\/25\/latest-emergency-coronavirus-funding-package-includes-tens-of-billions-for-defense-va\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Latest emergency coronavirus funding package includes tens of billions for defense, VA - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The $2 trillion plan also includes expanded unemployment benefits and big loans for American industries.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Latest emergency coronavirus funding package includes tens of billions for defense, VA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The $2 trillion plan also includes expanded unemployment benefits and big loans for American industries.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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