VA says 37,000 employees now furloughed or working without pay due to government shutdown

The Department of Veterans Affairs says 37,000 employees have been furloughed or are working without pay as the government shutdown continues.

Dig deeper:

In a release, the VA says its medical centers, outpatient clinics and Vet Centers remain open and are operating normally and VA benefits, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits, are continuing to be processed and delivered. Burials at VA national cemeteries are also continuing uninterrupted, as well as applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits.

VA Press Secretary Kasperowicz says most of the employees working without pay or furloughed come from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) as all VBA regional offices are closed. 

Other administrative positions that are affected include:

• Veterans Experience Office
• Office of Information Technology
• Office of General Counsel
• Board of Veterans Appeals
• National Cemetery Administration
• Office of the Inspector General

What they're saying:

"The Democrats’ government shutdown is limiting services for veterans and making life miserable for VA employees, and things are only going to get worse as time goes on," said VA Secretary Doug Collins in a release.

Why you should care:

The VA says other services that have stopped include:

• The GI Bill Hotline, which has been shut down, leaving 900,000 Veterans not being able to get assistance.
• More than 100,000 enrolled Veterans cannot get
• Employees working in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program counseling or case management services have been furloughed, leaving more than 100,000 Veterans without those services and a backlog of 61,988 new VR&E program applications.
• 56 VA regional benefits offices are closed to the public.
• The VA’s Manila regional office is in the process of permanently closing, after its legal authority to operate expired Sept. 30.
• A contract to provide VA transition briefs has lapsed, leaving more  than 16,000 service members who are preparing to leave the military unable to receive VA transition briefings. Transitioning service members are able to access all the information online.
• Across the county, 157 VA national cemeteries are no longer performing grounds maintenance or placing permanent headstones.

VA services not impacted by the shutdown

• VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers remain open as usual and are providing all services.
• VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
• Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue.
• The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will continue decisions on Veterans’ cases.
• Call Centers:VA’s primary call center (1-800-MyVA411) and the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) will remain open 24/7.The VA Benefit Hotline (1-800-827-1000) will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.The National Cemetery Scheduling Office (1-800-535-1117) (TTY:711)) will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, to schedule burials.
• VA’s primary call center (1-800-MyVA411) and the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) will remain open 24/7.
• The VA Benefit Hotline (1-800-827-1000) will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
• The National Cemetery Scheduling Office (1-800-535-1117) (TTY:711)) will be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, to schedule burials.
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will continue.